THE Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria, announcing December 2025 as the target date to complete the historic reform.
News Point Nigeria reports that the disclosure was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, during a press briefing to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide, Creating Hope Through Action.”
Globally, September 10 is set aside to raise awareness, promote prevention strategies, and recommit to saving lives from suicide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 720,000 people die by suicide every year, making it the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. Alarmingly, 73 per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
In Nigeria, attempted suicide has long been criminalised under Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes, a punitive approach that experts say has worsened stigma and discouraged distressed individuals from seeking help.
To change this, the government inaugurated a National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide on October 10, 2024, chaired by Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, to guide the transition to a public health–oriented response.
Prof. Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said the reforms were part of Nigeria’s effort to save lives and align with global best practices.
“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 said.
“This year’s theme calls on us to replace silence with dialogue, shame with empathy, and stigma with understanding. Our words matter. Our attitudes matter. Our collective actions matter.”
The Minister revealed that a government white paper has already been finalised, alongside a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, now called the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025.
The bill, which repeals punitive provisions in the existing Criminal and Penal Codes, has been reviewed and adopted by the Ministry of Health as its official position. Consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation are ongoing to refine the bill before presenting it to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration as an Executive Bill.
“We have less than four months to meet the December deadline. After statutory engagements, I will present a memo at FEC for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide,” Pate added.
Kachollom, in her remarks, stressed that suicide cases are often under-reported in Nigeria due to stigma and fear of prosecution.
Represented by the Director of Port Health Services, Dr. Nse Akpan, she said:
“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.”
The National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Dr. Tunde Ojo, added that Nigeria’s reforms align with global standards, where suicide is treated as a public health issue rather than a crime.
Also speaking, the Vice President of Integration and Nigeria Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Dr. Olufunke Fasawe, represented by Dr. Chizoba Fashanu, warned that Nigeria currently ranks seventh globally in suicide cases, a worrying statistic that underscores the urgency of reform.
Mental health advocates have long argued that punishing suicide survivors only deepens despair, while decriminalisation would encourage more Nigerians in crisis to seek professional help.
As Nigeria works towards the December 2025 deadline, stakeholders are optimistic that the reform will replace punishment with care, and stigma with support, offering a fresh pathway to hope for millions at risk.