The Federal Government has commenced moves to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, following the approval of its position on the matter by the Federal Executive Council.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during activities marking the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day.
Salako, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said the proposed reform would now be forwarded to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative process.
He described the move as both a legal and public health reform, arguing that people experiencing mental health crises needed care, support and appropriate intervention rather than punishment.
“A person experiencing a mental health crisis should be met with care, support and appropriate intervention, rather than punishment,” he said.
According to the minister, removing the fear of criminal sanctions could help reduce stigma, encourage people in distress to seek help and provide greater opportunities for timely intervention.
He, however, stressed that decriminalising attempted suicide alone would not solve the problem, saying the government would continue to strengthen mental healthcare services and expand community-based support.
Salako said the Federal Government would focus on early identification and intervention while encouraging more open conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
He identified the National Mental Health Act 2021, National Mental Health Policy 2023 and National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030 as key policy instruments guiding the country’s response to suicide and mental health challenges.
The minister also disclosed that the National Task Force on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide had been consulting policymakers and other stakeholders as part of efforts to advance the proposed reform.
Govt tackles suicide data gaps
Speaking on Nigeria’s suicide statistics, the National Coordinator of the Mental Health Programme, Dr Tunde Ojo, acknowledged gaps in the available data on suicide and attempted suicide.
Ojo said the ministry was deploying surveys and other data-gathering approaches to obtain more accurate and verifiable national statistics within the next year.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator, National Action for Suicide Prevention, Dr Ade Bash, reaffirmed plans to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare and strengthen community-based interventions.
Stakeholders at the event welcomed the Federal Government’s decision, pledging support for the legislative process and continued efforts to improve suicide prevention and mental healthcare across the country.
The proposed decriminalisation is expected to shift the response to attempted suicide from punishment towards treatment, support and prevention, subject to consideration and action by the National Assembly.
