The Federal Government has reaffirmed its plan to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria by December 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to adopt a compassionate, health-focused approach to mental health and suicide prevention.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, made this known on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide: Creating Hope Through Action”.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, Pate said, “Evidence shows that with greater public awareness, early identification of warning signs, improved access to mental health care, and compassionate community support, suicide rates can be significantly reduced.”
He stressed that the reform aims to replace silence with dialogue, shame with empathy, and stigma with understanding.
Pate disclosed that a government white paper has been finalised and a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, now called the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025, has been prepared to repeal punitive provisions in the Criminal and Penal Codes.
The draft has been reviewed and adopted by the ministry as its official position. Ongoing consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice are being held to finalise inputs before an Executive Bill is presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Kachollom, represented by Director of Port Health Services, Nse Akpan, noted that while suicide cases are under-reported due to stigma, the challenge is escalating nationwide.
“Criminalising suicide attempts does not save lives. Instead, it worsens stigma, discourages people from seeking help, and adds legal punishment to personal suffering.
“Our ministry is determined to change this narrative by adopting a more humane and health-centred response”, she added.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Tunde Ojo, explained that the reforms align with global best practices, where suicide is recognised as a public health issue, not a criminal offence.
Also speaking, Vice President of Integration and Nigeria Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Olufunke Fasawe, who was also represented stressed the urgency of the reforms, noting that Nigeria ranks seventh globally in suicide rates.
In Nigeria, suicide attempts remain criminalised under Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes, a policy that experts say has discouraged people from seeking help and deepened social stigma.
To tackle this, the Federal Government, in October 2024, inaugurated a National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, chaired by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, to guide the transition from a punitive to a public health–oriented response.
About the Author
