National Population Commission to commence registration of 12.72 M under 5 Children in Nigeria
As part of efforts to address the issue of low birth registration especially in rural communities across the country, the National Population Commission (NPC) says it is targeting to register about 12.72 million under five children in 2023.
The Director,Vital Registration Department, NPC Headquarters in Abuja, Mr Matthew Temidayo Sunday, disclosed this during a two-day orientation/state level Micro Plan Development for Integrated Birth Registration in Minna.
The two-day orientation was organized by NPC in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) supported by UNICEF for Deputy Chief Registrar’s of NPC across the 25 local government areas of Niger state.
Sunday who was represented by Makama Taala, Principal Vital Registration Officer, while giving the overview of the current status of birth registration in Nigeria, disclosed that only 57 per cent of under-five children are registered at birth in 2021 in Nigeria according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of 2021.
“43 per cent of birth registration is still needed to attain 100 per cent birth registration in the country,” he said.
He disclosed that states with low birth registration were Sokoto, Zamafara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Taraba and Niger, adding that states such as Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue and Ogun were doing better in brith registration.
In his address, Mr Wilfred Mammah, Child Protection Specialist UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, disclosed that UNICEF was supporting a functional overall birth registration system to ensure an up-to-date national digital birth registration process.
Mammah, whose address was read by Malam Bala Musa, UNICEF Focal Person in NOA in Niger said plans were ongoing to develop a mechanism to envisaged a simplified, accessible and automated eCRVS system that facilitate birth registration and certification of children in health facilities and communities.
In his remarks, Alhaji Muhammad Usman, Federal Commissioner in charge of Niger, represented by Abdullahi Nda-Ali, Technical Adviser NPC, disclosed that all birth registration would take place at local government level.
In their various goodwill messages, Dr Ibrahim Dangana, Executive Director, Niger Primary Healthcare Development Agency, represented by Hajara Idris, and Abdulwahab Alidat, NYSC Coordinator in Niger, pledged their readiness to ensure successful birth registration in the state.
Also, Hajiya Kaltum Rufai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development and Abubakar Aliyu, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, represented by Jemaku Usman, pledged their ministries support to the birth registration process in Niger state.
Similarly, the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Bosso, Magudin Minna, said the birth registration process was timely and called on NPC to increase their partnership with traditional institution especially in rural areas to gain the necessary support.
