A total of 1,174,392 birth registrations have been recorded across the country between January and May 2023.
The figure is contained in an app called RapidSMS, a data collection and reporting platform for online and offline birth registration, designed by the National Population Commission (NPC).
According to the app, the birth registration of children under one was 362,798, children under five were 562,345, while children above five were 249,249.
The app further revealed that the female children were registered in 2,573 centres while the males were registered in 3,936 centres across the country.
The app further revealed that Lagos State had the highest birth registration of 115,264, followed by Ogun with 82,296 and Bauchi, with 76,767 birth registrations.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, the Director, Vital Registration, NPC, Matthew Sunday, disclosed that more sensitisation by the commission was ongoing to ensure that Nigerians register their children at birth.
According to Sunday, “We have been on serious advocacy and sensitisation to let Nigerians know the importance of birth registration.’’
“UNICEF has been a great pillar of support in this advocacy. We are collaborating with primary health care agencies, National Youth Service Corps, and the National Orientation Agency to help us spread the message of birth registration”, he said.
The NPC has also assured that all assets and resources already secured by the commission will be safeguarded ahead of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the country.
