morganabLE Politics/Governance
The proposed legislation seeks to reform Nigeria’s existing legal framework by treating attempted suicide as a mental health emergency rather than a criminal offence
KaNo—
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday opposed a proposed legislation seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that individuals who survive suicide attempts should face imprisonment rather than be exempted from criminal prosecution.
Akpabio expressed his opposition during plenary as the Senate considered a bill sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, which seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical assessment, psychological treatment, rehabilitation and other support services.
Despite the Senate President’s objections, the bill scaled second reading and was referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further legislative consideration, including a public hearing.
The proposed legislation seeks to reform Nigeria’s existing legal framework by treating attempted suicide as a mental health emergency rather than a criminal offence.
It also provides for the establishment of crisis helplines, specialised training for police officers, teachers and healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and a national data collection system to strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
However, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain punishable under Nigerian law, arguing that the proposed changes required careful consideration before any decision could be taken.
During the debate, the Senate President said, “As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed. If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison.”
His remarks came as Ekpenyong appealed to lawmakers to support a legislative framework that would prioritise medical intervention and rehabilitation for individuals experiencing psychological distress.
Akpabio subsequently turned towards Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, and observed that the Senate had yet to conduct a public hearing on the proposed legislation.
“Senator Ningi, we are not yet at the public hearing. But you can see what is going on. He (Ekpenyong) is saying anybody who attempts it and does not die, we should rehabilitate the person,” he said.
Responding, Ekpenyong explained that the proposed legislation was intended to address the stigma associated with attempted suicide and encourage affected individuals to seek appropriate medical and psychological assistance.
“Mr President, it is beyond that. I am only addressing the stigma associated with it. For now, we believe this 10th Senate can change and decriminalise it. It is a mental health issue,” the lawmaker said.
Akpabio, however, reiterated his opposition, declaring, “If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you.”
The Senate President further observed that attempted suicide was covered by provisions of both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code, stressing that any legislative amendment must take into account the existing legal framework.
He explained that the involvement of state legislatures would be necessary during the public hearing to address possible conflicts between federal and state laws.
Leading the debate on the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s current legal provisions presented conflicting approaches to attempted suicide, particularly regarding the treatment of individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
According to him, while the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate medical intervention, other existing laws continue to prescribe criminal punishment for survivors.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention. Yet section 327 of the Criminal Code and section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment,” he stated.
The senator warned that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts from seeking professional assistance, while also forcing families to conceal incidents because of fear of prosecution and public embarrassment.
He maintained that the existing approach could undermine efforts to improve mental healthcare services, encourage early intervention and strengthen the collection of reliable information on suicide attempts.
“Criminalisation can discourage people from disclosing suicidal thoughts or seeking help. It may cause families to conceal attempts, health workers to avoid complete reporting, and communities to treat a medical emergency as a source of shame,” Ekpenyong said.
He urged his colleagues to support the proposed reform, arguing that individuals experiencing severe psychological distress deserved protection, treatment and opportunities for recovery rather than imprisonment.
“I therefore urge this Senate to support the Second Reading of this Bill and affirm a clear national principle: Nigerians in psychological crisis should be met with care, protection and a credible path to recovery,” he added.
Ekpenyong further explained that removing criminal penalties would not automatically resolve the challenges associated with suicide prevention unless accompanied by accessible mental healthcare, effective referral systems and sustained rehabilitation programmes.
He said the proposed framework would require survivors to undergo appropriate medical assessment, receive treatment and benefit from follow-up support designed to reduce the likelihood of repeated attempts.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.
The legislation also seeks to strengthen cooperation among healthcare institutions, law enforcement agencies, educational establishments and other relevant organisations involved in suicide prevention.
Under the proposed arrangement, public education and crisis response services would receive greater attention, while relevant professionals would undergo training to identify warning signs and respond appropriately to individuals experiencing psychological crises.
The bill’s passage through second reading indicates that the Senate has agreed to subject its provisions to further legislative scrutiny despite the objections raised during the debate.
However, the development does not constitute final approval of the proposed legislation or automatically remove the existing criminal penalties for attempted suicide.
The Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health are expected to examine the bill’s provisions, consider relevant legal implications and conduct a public hearing before presenting their recommendations to the chamber.
The proposed reform will require further legislative approval before it can become law.
Meanwhile, the Senate also called on the Federal Government to urgently release emergency funding from the Ecological Fund to address worsening gully erosion and landslides affecting communities in Cross River South.
The resolution followed a separate motion sponsored by Ekpenyong, who drew attention to recurring environmental disasters responsible for deaths, destruction of residential buildings and displacement of residents across Calabar and surrounding communities.
The affected areas include Atakpa, Edim Otop, Ikot Effangha Mkpa, Nyaghasang, Ikot Anwatim, Nasarawa/Bacoco, Akai Effa, Bayside, Summit Hills and Anansa.
Lawmakers expressed concern over a July 2026 landslide at Ikot Anwatim that claimed five lives, including four siblings, destroyed two houses and injured two residents.
They also highlighted another landslide at Edim Otop that reportedly killed an eight-year-old girl.
The Senate identified heavy rainfall, poor drainage systems, rapid urbanisation, indiscriminate waste disposal, unregulated sand mining and vegetation removal among the factors worsening the environmental crisis.
It warned that further deaths and displacement could occur without urgent intervention to protect vulnerable communities and prevent additional destruction of property.
