More than 14.5 million Nigerian children have been registered under the country’s intensified birth registration programme as the Federal Government steps up efforts to ensure that every child born in Nigeria has a legal identity.
The National Population Commission disclosed that digital birth registration services are now available in more than 6,000 of the country’s 8,809 wards.
The development was announced as Nigeria joined other African countries to mark the 2026 Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day.
The 2026 commemoration marks the beginning of a new CRVS decade, covering 2026 to 2036, with emphasis on integrating, decentralising and digitalising civil registration systems.
The Chairman of the NPC, Dr Aminu Yusuf, said the commission’s priority was to ensure that no child was excluded from legal recognition because of where he or she was born.
“Every registered birth strengthens the foundation for child protection and national development,” Yusuf said.
“Our priority is to ensure that every child, regardless of where they are born, is counted, protected and recognised before the law.”
Stakeholders said birth registration provides the first formal recognition of a child by the state and serves as proof of identity required to access essential services such as healthcare, education and social protection.
It also provides governments with demographic information needed for effective planning and delivery of public services.
The country’s CRVS system is being strengthened through collaboration among the NPC, National Identity Management Commission, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, development partners and communities.
In states including Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara, birth registration is increasingly being integrated with health facilities and community-based services to bring registration closer to families.
The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said digital integration would create a seamless identity-management system from birth to adulthood.
“Integrated digital identity systems create a seamless pathway for individuals from birth through adulthood, while improving access to services and strengthening governance,” she said.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, said birth registration should be regarded as more than the issuance of a certificate.
“Birth registration is far more than a certificate. It is a gateway to protection, services, and opportunity,” she said.
The UNICEF representative pledged continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen integrated, decentralised and digitalised registration systems.
The National President of ALGON, Bello Lawal, also stressed the need to decentralise registration services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“Decentralisation is essential to ensuring that children in remote and underserved communities are not left behind. Bringing services closer to families increases access and encourages timely registration,” he said.
Chairman of the House Committee on the National Population Commission, Hon. Okunjimi John Odimayo, said sustained political commitment was necessary to build an effective CRVS system.
He said a strong civil registration and vital statistics system would improve planning, service delivery and development outcomes.
Stakeholders, however, warned that millions of children across Africa still lack legal identity, with estimates indicating that only about half of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa are registered at birth.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.