Reps Demand Immediate Shift to Digital Birth/Death Registry to End Data Gaps and Enhance Security

The House of Representatives has intensified the push for a fully digital civil registration system in Nigeria, declaring that accurate population data is an “indispensable” element for effective governance and national security. The call was made on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, during a public hearing on a crucial bill aimed at revolutionizing the country’s vital statistics framework.

House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas emphasized that the current legal framework is obsolete and incapable of meeting the demands of a rapidly growing, data-driven nation. “The existing Act was crafted for an era without digital tools,” Abbas stated, stressing that the proposed legislation seeks to repeal and re-enact the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act to introduce a secure electronic framework.

The reform, known as the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS), is deemed a “national imperative” to address the alarming inadequacy of current records. The National Population Commission (NPC) reports that only about 57 per cent of births and less than 20 per cent of deaths are currently registered nationwide, leaving the government severely constrained in planning and service delivery.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Population, Hon. Odimayo Okunjimi, reiterated that without reliable records of births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events, the government cannot reliably determine its population metrics or effectively plan for critical sectors like education, healthcare, and social services.

Crucially, the lawmakers highlighted the security implications of weak registration systems. A digital, unified framework will not only eliminate duplication and fraud but will also significantly enhance national security and strengthen identity management by ensuring interoperability between key agencies like the NPC, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The new system, once enacted, is expected to establish a centralized digital database, bringing Nigeria’s civil registration process up to international standards.