The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has proposed that the Nigerian government should start issuing National Identification Numbers (NINs) to children at birth as a fundamental step towards establishing an accurate and reliable population database. According to UNICEF, assigning these unique identification numbers at birth, regardless of whether the children are born in urban, rural, or remote areas, is crucial for ensuring comprehensive national coverage.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, made this recommendation during the 7th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day event in Abuja. The event, which focused on the theme “Strengthening the Linkage of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics to Legal Identity Systems through Digitalization for Enhanced Inclusion,” highlighted the importance of integrating civil registration systems with national digital ID systems.
Munduate emphasized the value of linked systems in providing vital data for evidence-based policymaking, development planning, and monitoring progress towards both national and international development goals. She called on governments, development partners, and researchers to utilize this linked data to analyze trends, identify disparities, and target interventions more effectively, ultimately leading to more sustainable development outcomes.
“Legal identity is a fundamental human right, and access to basic public services is essential,” said Munduate. She stressed that linking civil registration and vital statistics with legal identity systems would ensure individuals have the official recognition and documentation necessary to exercise their rights, access social services, participate in economic activities, and assert legal claims. This linkage is particularly important for those who have historically been excluded from such services.
UNICEF has been actively supporting Nigeria in digitizing its birth registration system to facilitate this process.
In conjunction with the Africa CRVS Day celebration, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria reassured the public about the security of the national ID database, which has faced concerns due to recent data breach reports. NIMC’s CEO, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, speaking through a representative, stated that while efforts are ongoing to expand digital ID coverage, equal focus is being placed on ensuring that the National Identification Number (NIN) database remains safe and secure.
Coker-Odusote also revealed that out of the 109 million people already enrolled for NINs, children account for 20 percent. She expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the National Population Commission (NPC) for their collaboration in promoting an inclusive digital ID system in Nigeria.
