The Federal Government has begun the process to decriminalise attempted suicide after the Federal Executive Council endorsed the position of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the matter.
Vanguard reported on Friday that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day celebration.
Salako, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said the government would present the matter to the National Assembly for the required legislative process.
He argued that people experiencing mental health crises need help and care rather than punishment. He described the proposed reform as both a legal and public health policy.
“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,” Salako said.
However, Salako said decriminalising attempted suicide alone would not be enough to prevent suicide. He added that the government would continue to improve mental health services and expand community-based support.
He said the administration would also promote more open conversations about mental health while focusing on early detection and intervention.
Salako identified the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030, the National Mental Health Act 2021 and the National Mental Health Policy 2023 as key policy instruments guiding Nigeria’s response to mental health and suicide-related issues.
Dr Tunde Ojo, National Coordinator for the Mental Health Programme, acknowledged gaps in data on suicide and attempted suicide while discussing Nigeria’s mental health statistics.
Speaking on his part, Dr. Ade Bash, National Coordinator for National Action for Suicide Prevention, also reiterated the ministry’s intentions to bolster community-based interventions and incorporate mental health services into primary healthcare.
Backstory…
This comes barely three weeks after the Federal Executive Council approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to decriminalise attempted suicide.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, explained that the reform aims to lower suicide attempts and related fatalities by 15% by 2030.
Briefing journalists after the council meeting at the State House in Abuja, Pate noted that suicide remains a major public health issue globally and locally. He highlighted World Health Organization figures showing that suicide causes over 7,000 deaths in Nigeria annually, alongside an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts each year.
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