Headlines
Low awareness, platform charges slow E-birth registration drive in Kano
Zulaiha Danjuma
The National Population Commission (NPC) E-birth registration service was launched to allow Nigerians to register children at birth and receive a birth certificate online.
KANO FOCUS reports, with the support of UNICEF, this digital platform aims to provide a secure and accessible digital identity for every Nigerian child.
This is to enhance service delivery and establish a centralized identity data hub, accessible to healthcare, financial, and security agencies nationwide.
Since November 2024, over 933,859 digital birth registration have been recorded in Kano state, according to Alhaji Ismaila Al-Hassan Dogo, State Director of the NPC.
According to UNICEF, the digital birth registration platform has revolutionized the traditional registration process, doing away with tedious paper-based applications. This innovative platform has streamlined birth registration, eliminating double entries and ensuring a seamless, integrated experience.
The platform targets capturing all unregistered children in the 44 local government areas of Kano state and integrating them into the state’s database, NPC State Director, Al-Hassan Dogo said.
According to UNICEF, the new e-birth registration system would automatically generate and secure a National Identity Number (NIN) for every child registered.
UNICEF also said, registering children on the e-birth platform paves the way for a smoother future. With a digital birth certificate, kids can breeze through school enrollment, visa applications, and even international passport requests – setting them up for success from the very start.
So far, the NPC has said that Kano state has the highest number of e-birth registration in the entire country
But a recent visit to the Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano revealed a concerning lack of awareness about the National Population Commission’s (NPC) free E-birth registration for newborns among some new mothers.
Low Awareness about e-birth Platform
Many new mothers remain unaware of the e-birth platform and the services available to them.
Fatima Awwal Habib, a mother of four, expressed her surprise at learning about the service. “I have never heard of any such E-birth registration process for birth certificates,” she said.
Another mother, Safiya Ahmad, also confessed to being unaware of the digitalized birth registration process. “I am not aware of such,” she said, adding that the only birth certificate she had for her children was the one issued by the hospital.
New mothers Zainab Sale and Hafsat Isa were also surprised to learn about the free E-birth registration service. Ms. Zainab, who had just given birth to her son a week ago, said, “I am hearing this from you now, I don’t know if any birth certificate is supposed to be given to my son at the hospital, let alone me registering him for a national one through an online platform.”
Ms. Hafsat, while breastfeeding her few days old child, said, “I kept quiet earlier because this is very new information to me, I had never heard of a national free E-birth registration before today.”
But low digital literacy levels among many new mothers also poses a significant challenge to the e-birth service’s usability.
“A lot of people are not tech-savvy to use a website that requires a payment,” Bello Sani, a renowned Software Engineer and tech industry expert, who founded Tenet Technology, explained.
“Most people can go to a site to fill out forms and submit, but payment systems are still a struggle for a large number of the population. Many have to go to an internet center to be able to successfully access such service.”
This lack of awareness and limited literacy levels threaten to undermine the effectiveness of the NPC’s E-birth registration initiative. As Bello Sani noted, “This in itself will exclude people in rural areas completely, because issues of social and financial inclusion are still a problem.”
Processing fees
Accessing the digital platform and it’s services is supposed to be free for children under five years of age. But parents are required to enter a payment reference number when initiating the registration process.
The NPC’s public statement says registration is supposed to be free for children under five and costs N2,000 for those above five, the platform’s user interface tells a different story.
A closer examination of the e-birth portal reveals that a fee of ₦2,030 is actually charged for registering any child, regardless of age.
This glaring inconsistency raises questions whether the E-birth registration is truly free for Nigerian children under 5.
This is particularly concerning, as Nigerians who need this service the most, are those financially vulnerable and unable often to afford the fee.
“When the public have an impression that a government service is going to be free but it turns out to have a hidden charge it makes the public lose trust in the entire system” Bello said.
“This is a financial exclusion tactic in a way because the website is public and not a business website, which usually has its target audience, this is a government website.
The added charge makes it that people who can’t afford the service fee would not be able to use the service, hence are excluded” he added
As the NPC’s e-birth registration initiative holds great promise for Nigeria’s future, it’s imperative that the commission prioritizes widespread awareness and reviews the payment clause to ensure inclusivity. Collaboration with stakeholders is crucial to address these challenges and unlock the full potential of this game-changing initiative.
This story is produced under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Fellowship of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Co-Develop in partnership with Kano Focus online Newspaper.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Federal Government has approved the construction of a ₦1 trillion Kano Metropolitan Rail Service in a move aimed at transforming urban transportation, boosting economic activities and easing traffic congestion across the state capital.
KANO FOCUS reports that the approval was disclosed by Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, while addressing the state contingent that participated in the 2025 National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Borno State.
The development was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, Governor Yusuf explained that his administration’s decision to realign with the Federal Government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) was informed by the need to attract critical development projects to Kano State.
He said the proposed Kano Metropolitan Rail Service would provide a modern, efficient and affordable mass transit system capable of connecting key districts within the metropolis, improving mobility for residents and stimulating trade and investment.
The Governor described the rail project as a landmark intervention that would significantly improve the quality of life of the people and reposition Kano as a major transportation hub in Northern Nigeria.
He assured that the Kano State Government would work closely with relevant federal agencies to ensure smooth implementation of the project, transparency in execution and maximum benefits for the people of the state.
Governor Yusuf also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for approving the project and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to complement federal efforts through supportive policies and infrastructure development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has honoured the overall winner of the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Musabaqa), Hafsat Muhammad Sada, with a Hajj slot for her and her mother, a foreign scholarship, a plot of land and a cash reward.
KANO FOCUS reports that the competition, which recently concluded in Borno State, saw Kano State emerge prominently, with several participants excelling in different recitation categories.
Governor Yusuf also approved the allocation of plots of land and cash rewards to other Kano indigenes who emerged winners in various categories at the national competition.
Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf
The gesture was disclosed in a statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the beneficiaries, who represented Kano State at the competition, were received by the Governor at the Government House, Kano, where he commended them for bringing honour and pride to the state.
Governor Yusuf described their achievement as a clear reflection of Kano State’s rich Islamic heritage and its long-standing commitment to the promotion of Islamic education and moral values.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue supporting Qur’anic schools, Islamic scholars and faith-based initiatives aimed at producing morally upright and intellectually sound citizens.
In separate remarks, the Chairman of the Musabaqa Board of Trustees, Sheikh Shehi Shehi Mai Hula, and the Dan Amar of Kano and District Head of Gobirawa, Alhaji Aliyu Harazimi Umar, who represented the Emir of Kano, congratulated the Governor and the people of the state for what they described as an unprecedented achievement.
They expressed optimism that Kano State would record even more successes in future Qur’anic recitation competitions, given the commitment of all stakeholders to sustaining the current momentum.
Hafsat Muhammad Sada
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the mother of Hafsat Muhammad Sada thanked Governor Yusuf for the recognition and support, describing the gesture as a morale booster that would encourage more youths to embrace Qur’anic studies and strive for excellence.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that recent political defections have weakened the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing such claims as misleading and deliberately designed to distort facts.
KANO FOCUS reports that Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stated this in a press statement issued on Thursday, saying that commissioners heading critical and strategic ministries of government remain firmly loyal to the governor.
According to Waiya, governance is driven by structure, policy, and institutional control rather than propaganda or political speculation. He stressed that the ministries responsible for policy formulation, implementation, and service delivery are fully intact and functioning under the leadership of Governor Yusuf.
He listed the key ministries to include Education, Health, Works, Finance and Economic Planning, Planning and Budget, Information and Internal Affairs, Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Transport, Power and Renewable Energy, Housing Development, Rural and Community Development, as well as Procurement and Monitoring.
“These ministries represent the true levers of governance where decisions are made and implemented,” the commissioner said, adding that control of these institutions signifies stability and continuity in government.
Waiya noted that the administration has not lost control of governance processes, insisting that policies are being formulated and implemented, projects are ongoing, the bureaucracy remains aligned, and the cabinet continues to function effectively as the highest policy-making body of the state.
He cautioned critics against confusing political drama with authority, saying that while political movements may attract media attention, governance responds only to legality, structure, and institutional control.
The commissioner further maintained that the Yusuf administration remains focused and undistracted by political developments, stressing that the governor continues to govern effectively and strategically.
He urged detractors to accept the reality on ground and engage in constructive public discourse rather than spreading misinformation capable of misleading the public.
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