FG targets December 2025 to decriminalize attempted suicide

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced December 2025 arsenic the people day to decriminalize attempted termination successful Nigeria, arsenic portion of reforms aimed astatine strengthening intelligence wellness attraction and reducing stigma astir intelligence illness.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this connected Wednesday successful Abuja astatine a property briefing to people the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the Narrative connected Suicide: Creating Hope Through Action.”

Observed globally connected September 10, the time seeks to rise consciousness connected termination and beforehand preventive measures. According to the World Health Organization, much than 720,000 radical dice from termination each year, making it the 3rd starring origin of decease among radical aged 15–29. About 73 percent of these deaths hap successful low- and middle-income countries.

In Nigeria, attempted termination remains a transgression nether Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes—provisions experts accidental discourage radical successful situation from seeking help.

To code this, the Federal Government inaugurated a National Taskforce connected the Decriminalization of Attempted Suicide successful October 2024, chaired by Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe.

Prof. Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, said advancement has already been made, including a completed authorities achromatic insubstantial and the drafting of the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025.

The measure seeks to repeal punitive provisions, explicitly decriminalize attempted suicide, barroom prosecution of survivors, and fortify attraction and enactment systems.

“The draught achromatic insubstantial and amendment measure person been adopted arsenic the ministry’s authoritative presumption and forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation for further input,” Pate said. “The adjacent measurement is to contiguous a memo to the Federal Executive Council for an Executive Bill connected decriminalization.”

Kachollom, represented by the Director of Port Health Services, Dr. Nse Akpan, emphasized the request for a much compassionate approach.

“Criminalizing termination attempts does not prevention lives. Instead, it worsens stigma, discourages radical from seeking help, and adds punishment to idiosyncratic suffering. Our ministry is determined to alteration this communicative by promoting a humane, health-centered approach,” she said.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Dr. Tunde Ojo, reaffirmed government’s commitment, stressing that radical successful situation merit empathy and enactment alternatively than transgression sanctions.

The station FG targets December 2025 to decriminalize attempted suicide appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.