How to Get a Death Certificate in Nigeria

In Nigeria, the National Population Commission is saddled with the responsibility of registering and issuing of death certificate in Nigeria.

Any person who dies in Nigeria is eligible to be registered and this serves as the official and permanent record of the deceased by the State.

A death certificate is then issued to serve as proof of registration of the death.

Conditions for the Registration of Death in Nigeria

  • The death must be registered by the registrar of birth and death in the area where death took place
  • An applicant must have proof of death
  • An applicant must be a blood relative of the deceased
  • Death must be reported within seven (7) days from date of death
  • Death reported after thirty (30) days from date of death and within twelve (12) months may be registered at a fee as may be prescribed by the commission
  • Death reported after twelve (12) months from date of death can only be registered with written authority of the Deputy Chief Registrar

Procedure for Obtaining Death Certificate in Nigeria

  1. A death certificate obtained from the health institution where the death occurred is gotten. If the death occurred outside a health institution, there will be need to apply for one at a hospital.
  2. The certificate obtained above is then taken by the relatively authorized person to the registrar of birth and death in any designated registration centre
  3. The following are the necessary information needed in order to get a death certificate:
  • An application for a death certificate
  • The name of person reporting death
  • The name of the deceased person
  • The date and place of birth of the deceased person
  • The age, sex and marital status of the deceased person at the time of death
  • The time and date of death of the deceased
  • The Place of death
  • The cause of death
  • Details of dependants left behind (Spouse and children)
  • Identification documents of applicant
  • Copy of identification documents of the deceased
  • Death certificate issued by the hospital
  • Proof that the deceased is a blood relative

Upon receipt of an application, the death details as well as the cause of death will be documented and a certificate issued.

14 thoughts on “How to Get a Death Certificate in Nigeria”

  1. My mother died of stroke on 22 Oct, 2020, which she has been suffering from since 2015. I want to get a death certificate for her which was requested by the ministry where she work at Alausa, Ikeja but getting to the hospital (LASUTH, Ikeja) the doctor said he cannot issue the certificate because he did not see the corpse whereas that is the hospital we use for her just that the doctor is not always on sit whenever we go there, we just go on to do physiotherapy for her and according to Muslim doctrine she needs to be buried. Please, how can I get the certificate.
    Will love yo get reply from you soonest. Thank you.

  2. My husband went home to visit his family there in Nigeria Lagos on January 23 2020
    while he was there he passed away on February 10th I was told they took his body to a village there but in another state in Nigeria. He was buried on February 27th.
    My husband only lived here with me for only two and a half years before he died. He was sick but he didn’t want to die here in the states so he went to his home in Nigeria. I need a Death Certificate to proof of his death for business reasons and other issues needed attention.

  3. I am trying to locate the death certificate for my grandmother who was buried in november 1990 , in order to locate her burial plot in ikoyi cemetery. Can you please point me in the right direction in terms of contact numbers.

    Thank you

    • Hello Niki, part of the requirement at NPC is a death certificate issued by the hospital where death occurred.

      You can get another copy from the hospital upon an application for re-issue. With this, you can apply yo NPC.

  4. I believe a death certificate exists for the mother of a US client who was Nigerian. She lived in the US, but returned to Nigeria and died. What information do I need to get a certified copy of the death certificate; where would I send the information and what would be the fees?

    Thank you

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