The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is advocating for the issuance of a unique National Identity Number (NIN) at birth to every child in Nigeria, particularly those living in specific locations such as rural, urban, semi-rural, semi-urban, slums, and hard-to-reach areas. This appeal was made by UNICEF’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, during the 2024 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day commemoration held in Abuja.
Munduate emphasized that with approximately eight million babies born annually in Nigeria, it is essential for each child to have access to birth registration. She highlighted the need for better coordination between health systems and civil registration processes to ensure that all children are registered immediately after birth, regardless of their location.
Munduate stated, “In every maternity of the country, whether first level or second level of health attention, all children should be registered without any excuse.” She also stressed the importance of support from state governments, which should translate into concrete actions rather than mere verbal commitments.
Linking civil registration and vital statistics to legal identity systems is critical for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of records of vital events such as births, deaths, and marriages. This connection is expected to improve the legal identity system and enhance inclusivity.
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, represented by Mr. Lanre Yusuf, Director of Information Technology, discussed NIMC’s role in digitalizing Nigeria’s identity sector. NIMC has issued over 108 million unique NINs, with about 20% allocated to children under 16. The commission aims to enroll all Nigerians and legal residents in the National Identity Database (NIDB) as part of its inclusivity efforts.
Coker-Odusote also announced plans to introduce an improved General Multipurpose Card (GMPC), in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), and AFRIGO. This card will support government initiatives, including social safety net programs.
The chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Isa Kwarra, highlighted the crucial role of civil registration and vital statistics in facilitating legal identity recognition and providing essential data for planning, policy formulation, decision-making, and governance. He called for efforts to modernize civil registration processes using digital tools, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The commemoration of CRVS Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of timely registration of vital events, such as births and deaths, through well-functioning civil registration and vital systems.
