FEC Approves Amendment to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Nigeria

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act aimed at decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria.

The Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists after the FEC meeting.

Pate said suicide remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that more than 7,000 people die by suicide annually, while about 300,000 suicide attempts are recorded across the country each year.

According to the minister, attempted suicide is still criminalised under colonial-era provisions of the law, including Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code.

He said the existing legal framework treats people experiencing psychological distress as offenders rather than individuals who require medical care, protection and support.

Pate noted that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage people in distress from seeking help and is inconsistent with the approach of the National Mental Health Act 2021, which provides for supportive care and treatment for people at risk of self-harm.

He explained that the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare and Justice had worked together to develop the proposed amendment as part of efforts to align Nigeria’s laws with a public-health approach to suicide prevention.

With FEC’s approval, the proposed amendment is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and enactment.

If passed into law, the amendment would represent a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to attempted suicide—from punishment and criminalisation towards treatment, protection and mental health support.

The move is also expected to strengthen efforts to encourage people experiencing psychological distress to seek professional help without fear of prosecution.