The National Population Commission (NPC) has officially introduced a nationwide digital system for recording births and deaths. Known as the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system, this initiative aims to bolster legal identity management and refine demographic data accuracy. Federal Commissioner Afolabi Yori stated that the VitalReg platform began national operations on July 1.
This digital transition marks a significant update to Nigeria’s civil registration framework, ensuring compliance with global standards. By moving to a technology-based system, the NPC intends to enhance service quality, improve data integrity, and secure records for every birth and death. Such data is vital for effective public policy, resource distribution, and long-term national planning.
Data shows that Nigeria sees approximately five million births each year, yet a substantial number of births and deaths go unregistered, with current coverage at 57 percent for births and under 20 percent for deaths. To address this, the NPC has activated 4,011 registration centers across 774 local government areas, with plans to nearly double this footprint. The VitalReg platform, managed in partnership with Barnks-forte Technologies Ltd., allows for 24-hour access, reduced paperwork, and instant certificate issuance.
NPC State Director for Kogi, Samuel Omonakpeme, noted that the project supports the federal digital transformation agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which focuses on providing legal identities for everyone. During a demonstration, officials confirmed that the process requires parents to provide personal biodata and at least one valid National Identification Number (NIN) to register a newborn.
