The chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to enhancing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems as a fundamental pillar for legal identity and inclusive governance.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the United Nations House in Abuja, Kwarra highlighted the importance of the 2024 Africa CRVS Day.
In his remarks, Kwarra emphasized the significance of CRVS Day, which was established in 2018 following a recommendation by the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration.
He stated, “The day aims to raise public awareness about the critical need for timely registration of vital events, including births and deaths.”
Kwarra stressed that a robust CRVS system is essential for ensuring legal identity, protecting civil rights, and facilitating access to social services. This year’s celebration focuses on the theme, “Strengthening the Linkage of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics to Legal Identity Systems through Digitalization for Enhanced Inclusion.”
Kwarra noted that the theme aligns with Nigeria’s current efforts to leverage digital technology to improve the CRVS system.
He underscored that digitalisation is crucial for creating an interoperable system that seamlessly connects civil registration with legal identity and vital statistics, ensuring that no citizen is left behind.
“The importance of linking civil registration and legal identity systems cannot be overstated. Legal identity, which begins with the registration of birth, is a fundamental human right. It is the gateway to accessing essential services such as education, healthcare, social protection, and economic opportunities,” Kwarra stated.
Kwarra also highlighted the pivotal role of digitalisation in enhancing data accuracy, security, and accessibility.
