Nigeria's NPC Reports Only 40% of Births Are Registered

The National Population Commission (NPC) raised an alarm that only about 40 per cent of births in Nigeria are currently registered.

This development is significant for practitioners as it highlights the ongoing challenges facing the registration of births in Nigeria. The NPC has been working to improve birth registration rates, but the current figure of 40 per cent is a cause for concern. The lack of accurate birth registration data can have serious implications for individuals and families, particularly in terms of access to education, healthcare, and social services.

The legal context is governed by the National Population Commission Act 1992, which provides a framework for the regulation of population matters in Nigeria. The Act requires that all births be registered within a specified period, usually within 30 days. However, the NPC has reported significant challenges in enforcing this requirement, particularly in rural areas where access to registration services is limited.

The key parties involved are the National Population Commission (NPC), as well as state governments and local authorities responsible for implementing birth registration policies. Practitioners should monitor developments in this matter as it may have implications for population planning and development policy in Nigeria.