By George Ozalla
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a proposed law seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that people who survive suicide attempts should face imprisonment, even as the Senate passed the bill for second reading.
Akpabio made his position known on Tuesday during debate on the Suicide Prevention Bill, 2026, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District.
The bill seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and other support services for survivors.
Speaking during plenary, Akpabio insisted that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence under the existing legal framework.
“As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed. If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison,” he said.
He repeated his position, declaring that anyone who attempted suicide but survived would be jailed.
His comments came as the proposed legislation secured the support of a majority of senators during the second-reading stage, allowing it to proceed to further legislative consideration.
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s existing laws contained conflicting provisions because the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention, while the Criminal Code and Penal Code continue to prescribe criminal penalties for the act.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention. Yet Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment,” he said.
The senator maintained that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage people experiencing severe psychological distress from seeking assistance for fear of prosecution. He also warned that the threat of punishment could cause families to conceal suicide attempts and make it difficult for health workers to report cases openly.
According to him, treating survivors as offenders could deepen the stigma surrounding mental health challenges and prevent people in crisis from receiving timely medical attention.
Ekpenyong urged his colleagues to consider whether the appropriate response when someone survives a suicide attempt should be prosecution or protection.
He explained that the proposed law was intended to establish suicide prevention as a public health responsibility and ensure that people experiencing psychological crises received care and support rather than punishment.
The senator also clarified that decriminalising attempted suicide would not amount to legalising suicide or excusing anyone who encouraged, procured or assisted another person to take their life.
He stressed, however, that removing criminal penalties would not, on its own, address the problem without accessible mental health services, early intervention and sustained support for people facing psychological distress.
Other senators raised questions about the proposed reform and its implementation. Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, seconded the motion for the bill’s second reading but sought clarification on the practical measures the legislation would introduce to prevent suicide.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also raised legal concerns about the relationship between federal legislation and laws applicable in the states. He noted that the application of criminal justice provisions across the country required careful consideration, including the role of state legislatures.
Bamidele urged the Senate to examine the legal implications of the proposed amendments to avoid conflicts and ensure that the legislation achieved its intended purpose.
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, commended Ekpenyong for bringing the matter before the Senate, describing it as an issue deserving wider discussion among lawmakers, medical professionals, legal practitioners and other stakeholders.
Ningi argued that people who attempted suicide should not automatically be treated as criminals without consideration of the circumstances surrounding their actions.
Under the proposed framework, survivors would undergo medical assessment and receive appropriate treatment, referrals, rehabilitation and follow-up care. The bill also seeks to provide crisis helplines, promote public awareness, train police officers, teachers and healthcare workers, and establish a national data system to strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
The legislation is intended to address the existing legal position under which Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code provide penalties for attempted suicide, despite the National Mental Health Act, 2021, recognising psychiatric emergencies as requiring medical intervention.
The Senate referred the bill to its committees on health and judiciary for further consideration, including a public hearing. The passage for second reading does not mean the bill has become law; it must undergo further legislative scrutiny before any final decision.
