Nigeria’s birth registration system has entered a new era as the National Population Commission (NPC) officially ends manual registration nationwide.
The commission has made its Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) platform the only approved system for registering births and deaths.
The digital platform became operational on July 1, 2026.
NPC also warned that it will no longer recognise certificates issued outside the new electronic system.
The Federal Commissioner representing Abia State, Rev. Emma Trumps Eke, announced the change on Monday in Umuahia. He spoke during activities marking the 2026 World Population Day and the nationwide rollout of the platform.
Eke said the system will enable real-time registration. He added that it will improve national planning, strengthen identity management and reduce fraud.
“Anybody giving you manual registration is leading you into trouble. We have stopped everything about manual registration. From now on, every registration must be digital and captured in real time,” he said.
He also warned NPC officials against issuing manual certificates. He said the commission will suspend or dismiss any staff member who breaks the rule.
Eke explained that the database will connect with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The integration will help officials verify birth records for passports, driver’s licences, bank accounts and other services.
Parents can now register births through the online self-service portal.
The commission expects to authenticate applications within 72 hours.
Citizens can also visit local government offices and designated health facilities to complete registration.
Eke said accurate population data remains essential for national development.
He explained that governments rely on the data to plan schools, hospitals, industries, jobs and emergency programmes.
He also revealed that the commission had almost completed preparations for a national census before authorities suspended it in 2023.
Officials halted the exercise because of the election transition and economic challenges.
Eke said the NPC expects to conduct the next national census after the 2027 general elections.
He added that President Bola Tinubu could approve the exercise in 2028.
Abia State NPC Director, Mrs Joyce Ogwuruike, described the platform as a major shift from more than 30 years of paper-based registration.
She urged parents to register their children before they turn five.
She said early registration supports development planning and improves access to immunisation and other government programmes.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) also welcomed the reform.
Its representative, Kingsley Ukanwoke, said the platform will strengthen legal identity systems and provide more reliable population data for national planning.
Thank You For Reading, Share Your Thoughts Below!
