FG Launches New Population Data System, Vows Support For 2023 Census

President Bola Tinubu has launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS), alongside the National Geospatial Data Repository and the National Coordination Committee on CRVS.The CRVS is the government system to record, in a continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal manner, the occurrences and characteristics of vital and civil status events related to citizens and residents for the purpose of gathering accurate data on the population.

Speaking at the launch and committee inauguration ceremony at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu, who lauded the National Population Commission (NPC), expressed hope that the introduction of the system would aid Nigeria in achieving a 100% in its 2030 SDG target on real-time identity management and population data.

It is hoped that the current drive to reposition this vital registration system, will provide the basis for 100% attainment of our year 2030 SDG targets in respect of real-time identity management and population data.

He also noted that the new population data system, among other things, will provide information to citizens, just as it will be a very useful tool for public service delivery across various agencies of government, especially for the security sector.

The president, however, thanked the private solution providers, Barnksforte Technologies Limited, for the laudable project and assure them that the federal government will always extend a hand of partnership to all private investors that want to partner with it at all level.

The President also vowed his administration’s support for the upcoming national housing and population census.

“It is my honor to be here to launch the digital civil registration and data statistic system, the National Geospatial Data Repository, Digital CRVS System, and Inauguration of the National Coordination Committee for CRVS.

“This launch marks another great step in our efforts to generate accurate and reliable demographic data in Nigeria. We can debate why now, why not before now?

“Let me commend the noble initiative of the National Population Commission, the CRVS system is the basic building-block of an identity ecosystem. It will help to improve service delivery, care and knowledge to Nigerians and shall ultimately become vital source of identity data across federal agencies, such as NIMC, NIS, Road Safety, INEC, Police, EFCC and other security outfits.

“The system will also improve the ability of the federal agencies to generate vital statistics on important population events and migration, further enabling the government to design well tailored, effective and efficient policy, capable of meeting the needs of Nigerian people.

“It is hoped that the current drive to reposition this vital registration system, will provide the basis for 100% attainment of our year 2030 SDG targets in respect of real-time identity management and population data.

“Coming at this time, the commission has made substantial progress in the quest to deliver the first digital population and housing census. It is my hope that the result of the census will provide the nation with much needed data for development planning and the enthronement of good governance.

“I call on the commission to deploy its cutting-edge technology, especially the geospatial data that has been collected through the enumeration area demarcation in implementing the CRVS”, he said.

In his goodwill message at the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Health and the Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate stated that the eCRVS system will help the nation better in tracking maternal mortality rate , under 5 mortality rate and under Zero children wellbeing of Nigeria.

Prof. Pate added that the eCRVS complements the administrative records that the Nigerian government holds as major sources of population data which provides the basis for effective planning of program interventions and harnessing demographic potentials that the nation has .

“When we hear of maternal mortality rate under 5 mortality rate or Zero those children and the health of our people in terms of statistics , they are statistics we should care about and use to plan but behind those numbers are real people who suffer.

“This system we are putting in place will help us track that but beyond that at the Fed Min if health has committed to make maternal death in particular reported.

“The 80,000 women who die from maternal crisis should not be forgotten and this system will help make that more visible as part of our efforts to improve as we move forward”, he said.

Speaking on this significant event, the Chairman, National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, expressed his enthusiasm, saying “the aim of this high-level event is to emphasize the commitment of the current government and leadership to strengthen civil registration data capturing, collation, processing, dissemination and timely access to vital statistics in the country.

“It is to accelerate the improved civil registration and vital statistics systems in Nigeria over a period of ten years, from 2023 to 2030 in a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SD): 16.9.2 – legal identity for all, including birth registration”, he said.

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, lauded Nigeria’s launch of the system, and the inauguration of the National CRVS Coordination.

Commending the effort, Munduate said the gesture is a beacon of hope for the sustainable development and rights-based future of Nigeria, adding that “it is an affirmation of dignity and rights for every citizen, providing the foundation upon which societies can flourish.

“As we set forth on this ambitious journey to revolutionalize the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system over the next seven years, we are cognizant of the profound impact this will have on achieving Sustainable development goal 16.9.2-a legal identity for all, including birth registration”, she said.