The Federal Government has announced plans to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, with December 2025 set as the target date for the reform.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide: Creating Hope Through Action.”
Observed annually on September 10, the global campaign seeks to raise awareness on suicide and intensify prevention efforts.
In Nigeria, however, survivors of suicide attempts are still prosecuted under Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes.
Experts warn that the punitive law fuels stigma and discourages people from seeking help.
Writing by Dolapo Sonuga