New Legal Requirements for Name Changes in Nigeria

A recent clarification regarding the legal requirements for name changes in Nigeria indicates that swearing an affidavit and publishing a name change in a newspaper may no longer be sufficient for altering names on government records. This development is linked to a Supreme Court judgment from the 2021 case of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vs Degi-Eremienyo, which stated that a more formal process is necessary for official name changes.

One key requirement is a Deed Poll, a legal document that signifies a person's intention to abandon an old name and adopt a new one, typically prepared by a lawyer. Additionally, the name change process now requires publication in the Official Gazette, which serves as an official government record, distinguishing it from a newspaper notice that merely informs the public.

These changes are part of the National Population Commission's (NPC) efforts to implement a more structured and digital system for processing name changes.