By Muhammad Amaan
The National Population Commission (NPC) has successfully registered more than ten million children and issued them birth certificates across Nigeria.
Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, made this announcement in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of the Public Affairs Department of the NPC, Mrs Talibat Oloruntoba.
The First Lady, Senator Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, presented a birth certificate to the first baby of the year at Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja.
Kwarra, represented by the Federal Commissioner from Katsina, Mr Bala Banya, emphasised the commission’s commitment to ensure every child born in Nigeria was registered and received a birth certificate.
He explained that with the digitisation of the registration system and partnerships with the Primary Health Care Agency, children, no matter where they are born, would be registered.
The NPC chairman urged all parents and guardians to take advantage of the free registration service provided by the commission.
Director-General of the NPC, Dr Telson Ojogun highlighted the commission’s plans to establish more than 4,000 additional registration centres nationwide, making it easier for Nigerians to register their children.
He also stressed that the commission was utilising modern technology to ensure that each registered child had a unique, irreplaceable identity.
Dr Ojogun also expressed gratitude to the First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, for presenting the certificate to the first baby of the year.
He encouraged Nigerians to register deaths with the commission, helping to maintain an accurate and reliable population register.
