BelmadengPrepare · Practice · Get admitted
Home / NPC / How to Register a Death & Get a Death Certificate (NPC)

How to Register a Death & Get a Death Certificate (NPC)

How to register a death with the NPC and get a death certificate — and why it’s needed.

By Belmadeng Editorial · Updated 22 Sept 2026

Please note

Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with the National Population Commission (NPC). This is an informational guide — register births or deaths and obtain certificates only through official NPC channels (nationalpopulation.gov.ng and its self-service portals). Timely birth registration is free, and you should use the verifiable digital certificate; beware touts and fake documents. Note: a sworn age declaration is made in a High Court, not by the NPC.

On this page

What it is

Death registration is part of the NPC’s civil registration role. Registering a death produces an official death certificate — the legal record that a person has died.

Who registers

A close family member or informant usually registers the death, providing the deceased’s details and the relevant information about the death.

Why it’s needed

A death certificate is required for important matters such as burial permits, estate and inheritance, closing bank accounts, pensions and insurance, and settling the deceased’s affairs.

How to register

  1. Approach the NPC (online civil-registration service where available, or an NPC office/registration centre).
  2. Provide the deceased’s details and information about the death (and any supporting documents, e.g. from a hospital).
  3. Complete the registration and obtain the death certificate.

Tips

  • Register promptly — you’ll need the certificate for several processes.
  • Keep multiple certified copies.
  • Use official NPC channels; confirm the current process on the portal.

Frequently asked questions

How do I register a death in Nigeria?
Through the NPC (online civil-registration service where available, or an NPC office): provide the deceased’s details and information about the death, then obtain the death certificate.
Who registers a death?
Usually a close family member or informant provides the details.
Why do I need a death certificate?
For burial permits, estate and inheritance, closing bank accounts, pensions, insurance and settling the deceased’s affairs.
Where do I get a death certificate?
From the NPC — via its civil-registration service or an NPC registration centre.
Should I get more than one copy?
Yes — keep several certified copies, as different processes may each require one.

Related NPC guides

Birth certificate · Online & offices · About the NPC · All NPC guides

Reviewed: 22 Sept 2026 · Author: Belmadeng Editorial. Independent guide, not affiliated with the NPC. Fees and processes change — always confirm on the official NPC channels, and use the verifiable digital certificate.