The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide, establish a national suicide prevention framework and provide rehabilitation for survivors, despite opposition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who insists that the offence should remain punishable by imprisonment.
Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South, the bill seeks to address what he described as a contradiction in Nigeria’s legal framework.
Ekpenyong noted that while the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical attention, Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still criminalise the act.
He argued that decriminalisation alone would not be sufficient without accessible mental health services, stressing that suicide has complex causes and requires a compassionate, health-focused response rather than punishment.
“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 senator warned that criminalising attempted suicide discourages people from seeking help, forces families to conceal incidents and undermines efforts to collect reliable data on the problem.
He further cautioned that the threat of prosecution could have dangerous consequences, potentially driving people experiencing severe distress to ensure that their suicide attempts are fatal to avoid punishment.
Under the proposed legislation, imprisonment would be replaced with mandatory assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up care for survivors. The bill also provides for crisis helplines, training for police officers, teachers and health workers, public awareness campaigns and the establishment of a national suicide prevention data system.
However, Akpabio opposed the proposed decriminalisation, arguing that removing criminal penalties could encourage more people to attempt suicide.
“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” the Senate President said.
Akpabio also pointed to the involvement of both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code, arguing that State Houses of Assembly should contribute to discussions during a public hearing to prevent legal conflicts.
Following its passage for second reading, the bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further legislative consideration and a public hearing.
