Maternal mortality is one of the major challenges to health systems in sub Saharan Africa. This paper estimates the lifetime risk of
maternal death and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in four states of Northern Nigeria. Data from a household survey conducted
in 2011 were utilized by applying the “sisterhood method” for estimating maternal mortality. Female respondents (15–49 years)
were interviewed thereby creating a retrospective cohort of their sisters who reached the reproductive age of 15 years. A total of
3,080 respondents reported 7,731 maternal sisters of which 593 were reported dead and 298 of those dead were maternal-related
deaths. This corresponded to a lifetime risk of maternal death of 9% (referring to a period about 10.5 years prior to the survey) and
an MMR of 1,271 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births; 95% CI was 1,152–1,445 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The
study calls for improvement of the health system focusing on strategies that will accelerate reduction in MMR such as availability of
skilled birth attendants, access to emergency obstetrics care, promotion of facility delivery, availability of antenatal care, and family
planning. An accelerated reduction in MMR in the region will contribute towards the attainment of the Millennium Development
Goal of maternal mortality reduction in Nigeria.