The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act that will decriminalise attempted suicide, replacing prosecution with treatment, care, and support for individuals in psychological distress. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the decision on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after the FEC meeting in Abuja.
Shift from Punishment to Public Health Approach
Addressing State House correspondents, Minister Pate explained that the proposed amendment will be transmitted to the National Assembly as an executive Bill. The reform aims to end the application of colonial-era provisions that treat attempted suicide as a criminal offence, reclassifying it as a public health and mental health issue requiring professional intervention rather than punishment.
According to the Minister, Nigeria records more than 7,000 deaths annually due to suicide, with an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts across the country every year, citing statistics from the World Health Organisation. Despite the scale of the problem, attempted suicide remains criminalised under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code, creating a situation where individuals experiencing psychological distress are treated as offenders rather than patients requiring care.
Existing Laws Discourage Help-Seeking
Pate noted that the existing criminal provisions discourage people from seeking help and are inconsistent with the National Mental Health Act, which provides for treatment, protection, and supportive care for people at risk of self-harm. "The idea is that attempting suicide is not a crime," he said, explaining that the reform would change the prevailing approach to one that recognises people attempting self-harm as requiring medical and psychosocial support.
The Minister likened the current approach to punishing a person for suffering from an illness, arguing that mental health conditions should receive the same compassionate, treatment-oriented response as other health conditions. "So it's changing the paradigm to one whereby they require care and support," he said.
Next Steps and Implementation
The approved amendment will now be forwarded to the National Assembly as an executive Bill for legislative consideration. Once passed, it will effectively remove the criminal penalty for attempted suicide, aligning Nigeria's legal framework with modern mental health practices that prioritise treatment over prosecution. The reform is expected to encourage more individuals to seek help without fear of legal consequences, potentially reducing the number of suicide-related deaths and attempts in the country.
