The National Population Commission (NPC) currently operates more than 4,000 birth registration centres across Nigeria, giving parents and guardians direct access to register their children and obtain official birth certificates.
The commission’s nationwide network of centres forms the backbone of Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. According to NPC Chairman, Aminu Yusuf, the commission remains committed to expanding birth registration coverage and improving access to accurate and timely population data for sustainable development. He noted that over 4,000 registration centres are already operational nationwide, with ongoing digital upgrades designed to strengthen efficiency and verification processes.
As custodian of population statistics, the NPC has consistently emphasised the importance of early registration. Yusuf identified strengthening birth registration, particularly for the girl-child, as a priority, stressing that “legal identity is the foundation for accessing education, healthcare and social protection services.” The availability of thousands of centres across states and local government areas is intended to remove barriers and bring services closer to communities.
The registration centres operate at community and hospital levels, enabling parents to register births shortly after delivery. The commission has also been working with federal ministries to deepen awareness and increase participation in continuous registration processes. During engagements with stakeholders, Yusuf reiterated that the NPC would continue producing credible data for evidence-based policymaking and equitable service delivery.
The Federal Ministry of Education recently formalised a strategic partnership with the NPC to integrate birth registration into school enrollment and education planning systems. Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, stated that credible population data is essential for rational school siting, balanced teacher deployment and accurate enrollment projections. Integrating birth certificates into admission processes, he said, would promote proper age placement and strengthen the integrity of academic records. He added that enforcement would follow expanded nationwide access to registration services to avoid unintended barriers for families.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has announced collaboration with the NPC to strengthen birth registration and develop a reliable gender database. The Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasised the need for community mobilisation to ensure that women participate actively in continuous registration processes. “These are the issues we must address together, ensuring that children are properly registered at community and hospital levels and that we understand our population dynamics,” she said.
The NPC chairman also highlighted plans to advance gender-responsive policies and expand access to birth registration services nationwide. He stressed the commission’s resolve to improve coverage and ensure that every Nigerian child has a legal identity from birth.
With more than 4,000 operational centres and ongoing digital improvements, the NPC continues to provide parents across Nigeria with accessible points to register their children and secure official birth certificates while supporting national planning across education, social protection and gender development sectors.
