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The National Population Commission (NPC) has begun nationwide digital registration of births and deaths. This, it said, is part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s civil registration system, improve access to legal identity, and provide reliable demographic data for national development.

The initiative was announced at a news conference marking the 2026 World Population Day and the nationwide rollout of the fully digitised birth and death registration system under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) platform, known as VitalReg. This year’s World Population Day theme is “Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future”. The event was held simultaneously across all 36 states of the federation.

Federal Commissioner of the NPC in Lagos State, Barr. Saidat Oladunjoye, said the VitalReg platform became fully operational nationwide on July 1, 2026. She explained that the digital platform is designed to provide faster, more accessible registration services, improve the accuracy of demographic records, reduce processing delays, and support evidence-based planning for national development.

According to her, this year’s World Population Day theme highlights the need to invest in Nigeria’s growing youth population through quality education, healthcare, employment opportunities, social protection, and access to legal identity.

“Nigeria, with an estimated population of more than 238 million people, is the most populous country in Africa. Young people are a significant proportion of this population and remain one of the country’s greatest resources,” Mrs Oladunjoye said.

The Federal Commissioner, however, expressed concern about the low rate of birth and death registration in the country, warning that millions of Nigerians risk being denied legal identity, while gaps in vital registration continue to undermine the availability of reliable population data required for effective planning and the equitable distribution of resources.

To address these challenges, Oladunjoye said the Commission is strengthening collaboration with government agencies, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders, and development partners to ensure that all births and deaths are properly registered.

She said, “The new digital CRVS platform would simplify the registration process, reduce paperwork, improve data security, shorten processing time and strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. The NPC has entered strategic partnerships with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), UNICEF and private technology partners to decentralise registration services and bring them closer to communities.”

While assuring Nigerians that birth registration remains highly subsidised, Oladunjoye urged parents and guardians to register every child immediately after birth. She also appealed to the media to sustain public awareness campaigns on population issues, youth development, and the importance of obtaining legal identity.

“The NPC will continue to partner with governments and development partners to build a modern civil registration system capable of generating credible demographic data for national planning and sustainable development,” she added.

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The management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State has moved decisively to discipline final-year students who openly defied the institution’s long-standing ban on sign-out activities.

In a strongly worded memorandum dated 6 August 2026 and signed by Professor Innocent Ngangah, Dean of Student Affairs, the university expressed deep disappointment at what it described as a deliberate violation of its policy prohibiting all forms of sign-out celebrations both on and off campus.

Despite repeated earlier warnings, students from the Departments of Economics, Political Science, Criminology, English, Microbiology, Mechanical Engineering and Sociology organised and took part in such events at Otoko/Awkuzu, Awka and Uli on 4 and 5 August.

The university regards the gatherings as gross misconduct and a clear act of disobedience to constituted authority. It has therefore announced that all students, departmental executives and any other persons found to have participated in or facilitated the activities will face disciplinary measures in accordance with the institution’s regulations. Possible sanctions include appearance before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee, suspension from the university, the withholding of examination results or clearance, and any further penalties the University Senate may determine.

University authorities have long discouraged sign-out parties, warning that they can be exploited by mischievous elements for harmful acts such as pouring engine oil or urine on fellow students, and that some cult groups have used the occasions to target perceived enemies.

Professor Ngangah reiterated the ban in clear terms, stating that the university will not hesitate to enforce the full weight of its regulations against any individual or group found in further violation of the policy. All students have been firmly warned once again to desist from any form of sign-out activity.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two additional fake government agencies during its investigation into the activities of Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the findings on Thursday while presenting the commission’s interim investigation report to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Aliyu, the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was never created through any law or executive order.

“Our investigation confirmed that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the PFIPC was never legally established by the Federal Government,” Aliyu said.

He explained that the fake agency had occupied the offices and facilities formerly used by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), where it allegedly carried out unlawful activities, including false representation and impersonation.

The ICPC chairman further revealed that investigators uncovered two additional fake agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).

According to Aliyu, the two organisations were created using forged legislative documents and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities.

He also alleged that Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from the Foreign Investment Promotion Council to the Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to expand its operations to include revenue generation.

Aliyu said the investigation found no evidence that any government funds had been approved or disbursed to the fake agency. He also stated that investigators found no security lapses within the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria that facilitated its operations.

The investigation, he added, identified collaborators from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The ICPC has recommended the prosecution of Adeyemi, administrative sanctions against public officials who allegedly aided the operation, and reforms aimed at strengthening internal controls across government institutions.

Aliyu noted that the report submitted to President Tinubu was an interim report, adding that investigations were continuing to uncover further details and prepare criminal charges against Adeyemi and any other individuals found to have collaborated with him.

He added that President Tinubu had acknowledged the findings and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.