Introduction
A Statutory Declaration of Age is a formal legal instrument used to officially declare a person's date of birth when a birth certificate is unavailable, lost, or was never issued at the time of birth.

In Nigeria, where birth registration was not historically universal in rural areas, this document is a standard substitute accepted by the National Population Commission (NPC) for the issuance of an Attestation of Birth.

Who Makes the Declaration?
Ideally, the declaration should be made by a person who was present at the birth or has direct knowledge of the birth event, such as a parent, an older sibling, or a close elder relative (uncle/aunt).

The deponent (the person swearing the oath) takes legal responsibility for the accuracy of the date provided.

If the individual is an adult, they may sometimes swear the affidavit themselves if no older relative is alive, though a relative is preferred for higher credibility.

Primary Uses
This declaration is mandatory for obtaining an International Passport if a birth certificate is missing.

It is also required for enrollment in the National Identity Number (NIN) system, admission into schools, employment documentation, and for joining the military or paramilitary services.

It bridges the gap between unregistered births and the modern requirement for documented biometric data.