The Federal Government has announced that attempted suicide will no longer be treated as a crime in Nigeria from December 2025.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a briefing to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the narrative on suicide, creating hope through action.”
Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, explained that punishing people who attempt suicide has worsened stigma and discouraged many from seeking help.
“The reality is clear: criminalising suicide attempts does not save lives. Instead, it worsens stigma, discourages people from seeking help, and adds legal punishment to personal suffering,” Kachollom said.
He noted that the government had set up a National Taskforce on Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide in October 2024 to guide the process of replacing punishment with a compassionate, health-centred response.
“Recognising the urgency for reform, the Federal Government took decisive action and inaugurated a national taskforce on the decriminalisation of attempted suicide. The taskforce was mandated to guide the transition from punishment to a compassionate, public health-oriented response, with a clear target to actualise decriminalisation by December 2025, which means we have less than four months,” he said.
A government white paper has already been finalised, and a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, now called the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025, has been prepared to repeal the punitive provisions in the Criminal and Penal Codes.
Pate added that he had reviewed and adopted the documents as the official position of the ministry and is working with the Attorney-General of the Federation for further input before presenting them to the Federal Executive Council.
The National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Dr. Tunde Ojo, said the reform brings Nigeria in line with global best practices, stressing that suicide is a public health issue, not a criminal act.
Also speaking, Dr. Olufunke Fasawe, Vice President of Integration and Nigeria’s Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, represented by Dr. Chizoba Fashanu, revealed that Nigeria ranks seventh globally in suicide cases. She called for urgent reforms to address the crisis.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, with 73 percent of cases happening in low- and middle-income countries.
Officials say the reform is expected to reduce stigma, encourage early treatment, and save more lives.
