A report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) shows that 60% of babies born in Nigeria are not registered.
However Jean Gough, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria said the situation has improved, with the birth registration of children under 5 years old increasing from 30% in 2007 to 41.5% in 2011.
“But children from the poorest households saw only a slight increase – from 9% to 12%; whereas their richest counterparts increased from 51% to 76%.“We still have a lot of work to do in terms of narrowing the gap for Nigeria to achieve universal registration of all children under-five years,” Gough said.
In the past, Nigeria’s birth registration was characterised by late and delayed registration, but today as a result of Rapid SMS, those registered by their 1st birthday has increased from 10% in 2009 to over 40% in 2012.
Gough further stated that babies "unregistered at birth or without identification documents are often excluded from accessing education and health care. If children are separated from their families during natural disasters, conflicts or as a result of exploitation, reuniting them is made more difficult by the lack of official documentation.
“Birth registration, as an essential component of a country’s civil registry, also strengthens the quality of vital statistics, aiding planning and government efficiency. "
The report titled: 'Every Child’s Birth Right: Inequities and Trends in Birth Registration' collects statistical analysis from 161 countries. Globally in 2012, only around 60 per cent of all babies born were registered at birth. The rates vary significantly across regions, with the lowest levels of birth registration found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
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