By Obinna Uballa
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its resolve to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, setting December 2025 as the deadline for completing the reform.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the narrative on suicide, creating hope through action.”
Globally, September 10 is observed to raise awareness on suicide prevention. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 720,000 people die by suicide annually, with the act ranking as the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. Nearly three-quarters of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
In Nigeria, one of the biggest barriers to seeking help has been the criminalisation of attempted suicide under Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes.
Experts say the punitive approach has deepened stigma and discouraged vulnerable individuals from seeking medical or psychological support.
To address this, the Federal Government in October 2024 inaugurated a National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, chaired by Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, with a mandate to guide the shift from punishment to a health-centred, compassionate response.
Represented at the event by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, Pate stressed that “evidence shows that with increased public awareness, early identification of warning signs, improved access to mental health care, and compassionate community support, suicide rates can be significantly reduced.”
He added: “This year’s theme calls on us to replace silence with dialogue, shame with empathy, and stigma with understanding. Recognising the urgency for reform, the ministry inaugurated a national taskforce on October 10, 2024, with a clear target to actualise decriminalisation by December 2025. That means we have less than four months.”
The minister revealed that a government white paper had been finalised, alongside a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, now titled the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025, which seeks to repeal punitive provisions in the Criminal and Penal Codes. He noted that he had reviewed and adopted the draft documents as the official position of the Ministry, and consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation were ongoing.
“After this, I will be presenting a memo at the Federal Executive Council for an Executive Bill on Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide,” Pate said.
In her remarks, Kachollom noted that though suicide cases remain under-reported in Nigeria due to stigma, the problem is growing. Represented by Dr. Nse Akpan, she argued that criminalisation has failed to save lives.
“The reality is clear: 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 promoting a more humane, health-centred response,” she said.
National Mental Health Programme Coordinator, Dr. Tunde Ojo, said the reforms would align Nigeria with global best practices, where suicide is treated as a public health issue rather than a criminal act.
