The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its firm dedication to decriminalizing attempted suicide, targeting full implementation by December 2025, as part of a broader shift toward a compassionate, public health-focused response to mental health crises.
This announcement signifies ongoing reforms aimed at reducing stigma, encouraging help-seeking, and aligning Nigeria with global best practices in suicide prevention.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, highlighted the urgency of the reform.
“We have less than four months to actualize decriminalization by December 2025,” Pate stated, emphasizing the transition from punitive measures to supportive interventions.
He noted that the ministry is preparing a memo for the Federal Executive Council to introduce an Executive Bill on the matter, following consultations with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The push for decriminalization stems from longstanding advocacy and the recognition that criminalizing attempted suicide—under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act (applicable in southern states) and Section 231 of the Penal Code (in northern states)—has deterred individuals from seeking help and exacerbated stigma.
Offenders currently face up to one year in prison, a penalty that experts argue worsens mental health outcomes rather than preventing them.
Prof. Pate pointed to Nigeria’s alarming suicide statistics, with an estimated 16,000 deaths annually and a rate of 12.9 per 100,000 people, disproportionately affecting youth aged 15-29, as reported by the World Health Organization.
The initiative builds on milestones achieved since the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework in November 2023, which identified decriminalization as a core objective.
In October 2024, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, the government inaugurated the National Taskforce on the Decriminalization of Attempted Suicide, chaired by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, Executive Director of the Centre for Health Ethics, Law and Development (CHELD).
The taskforce, comprising psychiatrists, lawmakers, and advocates like Prof. Taiwo Obindo of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, was mandated to develop an action plan, conduct stakeholder engagements, launch awareness campaigns, and mobilize resources for a seamless reform.
Complementing these efforts, the Senate’s Suicide Prevention Bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), passed its first reading in February 2025.
The bill not only seeks to repeal criminal penalties but also establishes a national framework for prevention, including helplines, mental health training, crisis response services, and data systems.
Ekpenyong, during a recent coalition visit, reaffirmed his support, stating that the legislation addresses underreported mental health challenges and the socio-economic costs of inaction.
Advocacy groups like the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group (NSPAWG) and LifeLine International have praised the progress, noting that for every recorded suicide, there are at least 20 attempts, impacting hundreds of thousands annually, including families who suffer psychosocial effects.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, described suicide as a growing concern in Nigeria due to underreporting in a stigmatizing environment, urging a societal shift toward empathy.
“Instead of punishment and ostracism, we must extend helping hands,” she said. The reform is expected to integrate with the 2021 Mental Health Act, which treats attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency but stops short of full decriminalization.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users