In a significant move towards enhancing national planning and public service delivery, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the launch of the Digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS) and the National Geospatial Data Repository. During a ceremony at the State House in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu emphasized the critical importance of accurate data on Nigeria’s population demographics for the country’s strategic planning and development efforts.
The President underlined that Nigeria’s burgeoning population is not just a demographic statistic but the nation’s most valuable asset in its quest to emerge as one of the leading economies globally. The implementation of systems like e-CRVS is expected to serve as a cornerstone for realizing this vision, by ensuring a robust identity ecosystem.
The e-CRVS is designed to be an integrative platform, which according to President Tinubu, will enhance service delivery to Nigerians and become a central repository of identity data for federal agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other security agencies.
The President further tasked the National Population Commission (NPC) with the utilization of advanced technology, particularly the geospatial data accumulated through Enumeration Area Demarcation, to implement the e-CRVS effectively.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) lauded Nigeria’s efforts, with Country Representative Cristian Munduate highlighting the initiative as a beacon of hope for sustainable development and a future anchored in rights. The launch, a collaboration between the NPC and Barnkforte Technologies Limited, is aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s civil registration and vital statistics system, thereby contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9.2, which advocates for legal identity for all.
Munduate reassured UNICEF’s unwavering support for the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing a sustainable civil registration and vital statistics system.
NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, also spoke at the event, outlining the project’s ten-year plan from 2023 to 2030. He elaborated on how the project is set to expedite the civil registration and vital statistics systems in Nigeria, playing a crucial role in fulfilling the SDGs related to legal identity, including birth registration.
This digital leap marks a transformative chapter in Nigeria’s governance and public administration, positioning the nation to better harness its human capital for economic and social prosperity. Through initiatives like the e-CRVS and the National Geospatial Data Repository, Nigeria is setting the stage for more informed policy-making and effective governance, paving the way for a future-ready nation.
