Nigeria
A well developed and functioning civil registration system ensures the registration of all vital events including births, marriages and deaths and issues relevant certificates as proof of such registration. Civil registration promotes efficient government planning, effective use of resources and aid, and more accurate monitoring of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Birth Registration
| Legal framework for birth registration | Births, Deaths, Etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, No. 69 (14 December 1992) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering births | National Population Commission |
| Organizational structure | Centralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register the birth of a child? | Yes |
| Is an official birth certificate issued as a result of birth registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a birth | Parent, Guardian |
| Time allowed for registration | 60 days |
| Fee for birth registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for birth certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | Yes, by law, but not enforced |
| Other official fees involved in the birth registration process | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children who are eligible for citizenship but were born outside the country | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children whose parents are foreign nationals | No |
| Requirements for birth registration | Identification of the child’s father, Father’s presence at registration, Identification of the child’s mother, Mother’s presence at registration, Name of the child. |
| Information collected | Regarding the child: Name, Sex, Date of birth, Date of registration, Place of occurrence [of the birth], Place of registration
Regarding the mother of the child: Marital status, Place of usual residence |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office, Place of occurrence of the birth |
| A birth certificate is required for: | Identification, Travel, Education |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on births | The registered births are sent from all the registration points to the central office every quarter and at the end of the year; the data are processed and published for the general public. |
Download sample birth registration form
Download sample birth certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Marriage Registration
| Legal framework for marriage registration | Births, Deaths, Etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, No. 69 (14 December 1992) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a marriage | Local government offices;
Marriage Registry within the Ministry of the Interior |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Legal age for marriage | 18 years old for men and women |
| Is there a legal obligation to register marriages? | Yes |
| Is an official marriage certificate issued as a result of marriage registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a marriage | Bride and groom |
| Time allowed for registration | 60 days |
| Fee for marriage registration | Yes |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for marriage certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the marriage registration process | Yes |
| Additional registration requirements or fees if one spouse was born outside the country or has dual citizenship | No |
| Requirements for marriage registration | Husband’s presence at registration, Wife’s presence at registration, Residential proof of husband, Residential proof of wife, Proof of wife’s age, Proof of husband’s age, Witness to the marriage |
| Information collected | Regarding the spouses: Date of birth or age of bride, Place of usual residence of bride, Religion of bride, Date of birth or age of groom, Place of usual residence of groom, Religion of groom
Regarding the marriage: Date of occurrence, Date of registration, Place of occurrence, Place of registration |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office, Mayor’s office, Other district or local authority, Place of occurrence of the marriage |
| A marriage certificate is required for: | Processing travel documents, Employment |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on marriage | Information is recorded and stored but not processed. |
Download sample marriage registration form
Download sample marriage certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Death Registration
| Legal framework for death registration | Births, Deaths, Etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, No. 69 (14 December 1992) |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a death | National Population Commission |
| Organizational structure | Centralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register deaths? | Yes |
| Is an official death certificate issued as a result of death registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a death | Relative [of the deceased], Hospital |
| Time allowed for registration | Within 48 hours |
| Fee for death registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for death certificate | No |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the death registration process | No |
| Registration requirements or fees specific for the deaths of people who were residents in the country and also of foreign nationality | No |
| Requirements for death registration | Medical death certificate, Date of death, Age at death |
| Information collected | Regarding the deceased: Name, Sex, Date of birth or age, Marital status, Place of usual residence
Regarding the death: Date of death, Place of occurrence of the death, Type of place of occurrence (hospital, home, etc.), Date of registration, Place of registration, Cause of death, Certifier |
| Information collected in case of fetal death | Date of occurrence of fetal delivery, Date of registration, Place of occurrence, Place of registration, Type of place of occurrence (hospital, home, etc.), Place of usual residence of the mother |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | Civil registrar’s office, Place of occurrence of the death |
| A death certificate is required for: | Inheritance, Payment of benefits of the deceased |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on deaths | Data processing occurs in the central office of National Population Commission in Abuja. Although by law the National Statistical Agency produces and publishes mortality statistics for the country, death registration is carried out by National Population Commission. |
Download sample death registration form
Download sample death certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.