The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an amendment to Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act aimed at decriminalising attempted suicide and shifting the country’s response from punishment to care and support.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday after the FEC meeting, describing suicide as a major public health concern in Nigeria.
Pate said the World Health Organisation estimates that more than 7,000 people die by suicide in Nigeria each year, with about 300,000 suicide attempts recorded annually.
Despite the scale of the problem, attempted suicide remains a criminal offence under colonial-era provisions, including Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code.
Pate said the existing legal framework treats people experiencing severe psychological distress as offenders rather than individuals requiring medical care, protection and support.
He argued that criminalisation can discourage people in crisis from seeking help and is inconsistent with the principles of the National Mental Health Act 2021, which provides for the protection and treatment of people at risk of self-harm.
The Minister said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare worked with the Ministry of Justice to develop the proposed amendment to the Mental Health Act.
The amendment has now been approved by the Federal Executive Council and will be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and enactment.
The proposed reform would mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to suicide prevention, placing greater emphasis on mental healthcare, early intervention and support for people experiencing psychological distress.
The amendment will now be considered by the National Assembly, where it must be passed before it can become law.
