The National Population Commission on Thursday said it recorded 28,066 births in the coastal town of Badagry, Lagos State, in 2021.

Mrs Tonia Kalu, a Deputy Director in the Commission, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Badagry that the new births comprised of 14,237 males and 13,829 females.

According to her, there was an increase in the number of babies born in 2021 when compared with 2020 figures.

In January, we issued out 2,150 certificates; 1,939 in February; 1,830 in March; 1,598 in April; 3,076 in May; 1,657 in June; 1,327 in July; 1,809 in August and 6,040 in September.

“Also, we issued 2,703 in October, 2,446 in November and 1,491 in December.

“In total, we issued 28,066 birth certificates in the whole of 2021,” the NPC official said.

Kalu said that birth registration was compulsory, continuous, permanent and universal, urging parents to ensure that they register their children.

The deputy director also advised residents to register the dead, describing the figure recorded for death certificates for the period under review as “nothing to write home about.”

“Throughout the 2021, only 143 certificates were issued for deaths in Badagry.

“People don’t come to collect death ccertificates for their dead ones, especially the Moslems don’t believe in the collecting this certificate.

“The government has to sensitise residents on the need to collect it because it can be used to check the influx of epidemic in the town.

“Getting a death certificate is equally as important as birth certificate, as this would enable persons concerned to access the benefits of the deceased.

“People must ensure that they come forward to register the death of their loved ones so that death certificate could be issued to family of the deceased,” the NPC official said.

-NAN