The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide, passing it for second reading on Tuesday.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), aims to align national laws with the National Mental Health Act, which treats suicide attempts as psychiatric emergencies requiring treatment rather than crimes.
Currently, Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code criminalise attempted suicide, creating a legal contradiction.
Ekpenyong argued that criminalisation discourages people from seeking help, forces families to hide incidents, and skews national data. He warned that fear of prosecution could drive individuals to ensure their attempts are fatal.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.
The bill proposes mandatory assessment, referral, treatment, and follow-up instead of jail terms. It also calls for crisis helplines, training for police, teachers, and health workers, public education campaigns, and a national data system.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio opposed the measure, insisting decriminalisation could encourage suicide attempts.
He stressed the need for state Houses of Assembly to participate in public hearings to avoid conflicts between the Criminal and Penal Codes.
The bill has been referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Health for public hearing and further legislative consideration.
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