BREAKING: FG Targets December 2025 to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Nigeria

The Federal Government has fixed December 2025 as the deadline to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, shifting from punitive measures to a more compassionate, health-focused response.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday during an event marking World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide, Creating Hope Through Action.

Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said provisions in the Penal and Criminal Codes criminalising attempted suicide have long discouraged distressed individuals from seeking help and deepened stigma.

He revealed that the government has set up a national taskforce, chaired by Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, to oversee the transition.

“A draft white paper and amendment bill to the National Mental Health Act have been finalised. These will repeal punitive provisions and introduce a more humane, health-centred framework,” Pate stated.

He further explained that consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation are ongoing ahead of presenting an Executive Bill to the Federal Executive Council.

The ministry emphasised that suicide prevention should be anchored on awareness creation, early intervention, improved access to mental health care, and stronger community support.

“Criminalising suicide attempts does not save lives. Instead, it fuels stigma and compounds personal suffering with legal punishment. We are committed to changing this narrative,” Kachollom stressed.

Officials also raised concern over rising suicide cases in the country, which remain underreported, citing World Health Organisation data ranking Nigeria seventh globally in suicide prevalence.

They noted that the reform aligns with international best practices that treat suicide primarily as a public health challenge rather than a criminal offence.