The Federal Government has taken a major step towards the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria, following the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the position of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the matter.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while commemorating the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, the minister said the FEC approval would pave the way for the proposal to be forwarded to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative process.
He expressed optimism that the process would be concluded without delay.
Salako described the proposed decriminalisation as not only a legal reform but also a public health and human rights imperative.
According to him, people experiencing mental health crises require care, support and appropriate intervention rather than punishment.
“A person experiencing a mental health crisis should be met with care, support and appropriate intervention, rather than punishment.
“Removing the fear of criminal sanctions can help reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking and create greater opportunities for timely intervention.”
The minister, however, stressed that legislation alone would not prevent suicide, noting that sustained investment in mental health services, early identification and intervention, community support and public awareness remained essential.
He said the government must strengthen mental health services, expand access to quality care, support persons with lived experience and promote open conversations capable of replacing fear and discrimination with empathy and hope.
Salako said the government’s action was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to strengthening the health system, saving lives and improving access to quality healthcare.
He noted that the ministry had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s response to mental health and suicide prevention through the National Mental Health Act, 2021, National Mental Health Policy, 2023, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030.
The minister disclosed that the ministry had also established the National Task Force on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, comprising stakeholders from government, academia, professional associations, civil society organisations, development partners and persons with lived experience.
He said the task force had conducted stakeholder consultations, engaged policymakers across the three arms of government, developed a Government White Paper and undertaken advocacy, sensitisation and public awareness activities.
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Charles Nzelu, represented by the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, said the ministry remained committed to providing strategic leadership and coordination for mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
Nzelu listed other priorities to include strengthening mental health services, integrating mental health into primary healthcare, building the capacity of health workers, expanding community-based interventions and strengthening partnerships.
He said the decriminalisation process had involved extensive stakeholder engagement, evidence generation, policy dialogue, advocacy and public awareness.
According to him, government institutions, legal experts, mental health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners, youth representatives and persons with lived experience had contributed to the process.
He urged Nigerians to create an environment where people could speak openly about their mental health, express their emotions and seek help early without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Also speaking, the Mental Health Programme Manager, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Nigeria, Dr Akanmu Mujitaba, said suicide remained a significant public health concern globally.
He disclosed that more than 700,000 people die by suicide annually worldwide, with over 70 per cent of the deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Mujitaba said the World Health Organisation estimated that Nigeria records more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 suicide attempts annually.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Mental Health Programme for the progress made on decriminalisation, describing the FEC approval as a beginning.
He urged the ministry to ensure that the development was followed through to full legislative passage.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on September 10 to raise awareness about suicide prevention and promote collective action to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour globally.
