The Nigerian Federal Government has taken a major step toward decriminalizing attempted suicide after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the position of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day event, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced that the proposal will now head to the National Assembly for legislative enactment.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., Salako expressed confidence that lawmakers would act swiftly. He framed the push to eliminate criminal penalties as a crucial blend of legal reform, public health necessity, and human rights advancement, emphasizing that individuals in distress require clinical support rather than prosecution.
“A person experiencing a mental health crisis should be met with care, support and appropriate intervention, rather than punishment. Removing the fear of criminal sanctions can help reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking and create greater opportunities for timely intervention,” the Minister said.
While praising the cabinet approval as a key achievement, Salako noted that legal changes alone cannot resolve the issue without ongoing funding for mental health care, early detection, public education, and community support systems.
“We must continue to strengthen mental health services, expand access to quality care, promote early identification and intervention, support persons with lived experience, empower communities and foster open conversations that replace fear and discrimination with empathy and hope,” he said.
Salako stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to improve the country’s health infrastructure and broaden access to quality medical services. He added that the ministry has steadily built a framework through policies such as the National Mental Health Act of 2021, the National Mental Health Policy of 2023, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030.
To drive this shift, the ministry created the National Task Force on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, drawing together representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, civil society, professional bodies, development groups, and individuals with personal experience of mental health struggles. The task force has engaged officials across all three arms of government, gathered feedback from key stakeholders, published a White Paper, and launched public awareness campaigns.
Salako urged government agencies, civic groups, religious and traditional leaders, media organizations, healthcare workers, and the general public to unite in reshaping public perceptions, reiterating that preventing suicide requires a collective effort.
In his opening address, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Charles Nzelu—represented by Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme—reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to guiding national mental health policies. He outlined plans to incorporate mental health into primary care, train health personnel, expand local support networks, and broaden multi-sector partnerships.
Nzelu explained that the task force’s broad-based consultations were designed to ensure the resulting legal framework reflects the actual experiences and needs of the population. He encouraged Nigerians to foster environments where mental health can be discussed openly and without judgment, adding that World Suicide Prevention Day, observed every September 10, serves as a call to mobilize real progress rather than just a ceremonial date.
Also offering support, Dr. Akanmu Mujitaba, Mental Health Programme Manager at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) Nigeria, emphasized the global impact of the crisis. He pointed out that over 700,000 people die by suicide globally each year, with more than 70 percent of those losses occurring in low- and middle-income nations. In Nigeria, World Health Organization data estimates over 7,000 annual suicide deaths and roughly 300,000 attempts.
Mujitaba noted that every figure represents impacted families and communities, showing that prevention is possible when policy, systems, and empathy align. He praised the ministry and the National Mental Health Programme for bringing the proposal to cabinet approval and urged them to maintain momentum through the legislative phase.
