Nigeria Kills Colonial-Era Suicide Law, Targets 15% Drop by 2030
Abuja, Nigeria — In a bold move that signals a new dawn for mental health care in Africa's biggest nation, the Federal Government has officially moved to decriminalise attempted suicide. The goal? A 15% reduction in suicide cases by 2030, shifting the national response from punishment to compassion.
This is a win for humanity, plain and simple. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act, effectively scrapping those archaic colonial-era laws that treated people in crisis as criminals. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, broke the news after the council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Why Nigeria is scrapping the old suicide law
For too long, Nigerians who attempted suicide were arrested and prosecuted under laws inherited from the British colonial masters. These are laws that made zero sense then and make even less sense now. As Prof. Pate put it, these were people who were ill, not offenders.
“Within the context of those colonial-era laws, you can arrest them and, in fact, prosecute them for breaking the law. While these are people who are actually ill, it is like getting somebody who has tuberculosis and saying, 'Why did you have tuberculosis?'”
That's the kind of logic that finally got through. The paradigm is shifting from punishment to care and support. If someone survives an attempted suicide, they need help, not handcuffs.
What the numbers say about suicide in Nigeria
The World Health Organisation estimates that suicide accounts for more than 7,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. That's not just a statistic, that's a crisis. And with about 300,000 suicide attempts recorded each year, the urgency is real.
Prof. Pate also revealed that more than 450,000 Nigerians require psychosocial support annually. These numbers scream one thing: Nigeria needs a public health response, not criminal sanctions.
How the amendment was pushed through
This didn't happen overnight. The proposed amendment followed extensive consultations involving mental health advocates, the Attorney-General's Office, the Ministry of Justice, and a dedicated task force. The consensus was clear, and the National Assembly is now set to receive the bill for legislative action.
“After extensive deliberation, including by mental health advocates, there was consensus to actually make this amendment. With the Attorney-General's Office, Ministry of Justice, ourselves and the task force that was set up, and with the support of the National Assembly, we think this bill will make a major difference from a public health perspective.”
The reform also fixes the inconsistency between the criminal justice framework and the National Mental Health Act, 2021, which already provides for supportive care and treatment for people at risk of self-harm.
Big investments coming for Nigeria's health infrastructure
Beyond the mental health win, Prof. Pate also addressed the major projects approved for the National Hospital, Abuja, and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT). He made it clear that these are unprecedented investments, funded by the National Assembly and managed through the proper institutions.
He didn't mince words about Nigeria's historical underinvestment in health infrastructure.
“This is unprecedented because, to be honest, Nigeria has not invested significantly or seriously in health infrastructure. You go to many of our facilities every day; people are complaining. So, you need to make that leap of faith to get the resources appropriated, which has been done.”
The procurement processes went through competitive bidding overseen by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). No shortcuts, no backroom deals. The contractors have been vetted for capability, and the FEC reviewed everything without objection from the BPP.
Pate drew a sharp comparison between road spending and health spending. Nigeria pours hundreds of billions of naira into roads every day because they drive economic growth. Now, health is finally getting that same serious energy.
“If you look at roads, there are hundreds of billions that are being awarded every day for roads, and they are very necessary for the economic growth of this country. But when it comes to investing in health, we're not used to those major investments. Now we're beginning to change that.”
Nigeria's new biotech policy: A game changer for the bio-economy
In another major development, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN, announced that the FEC has approved the revised National Biotechnology Policy 2026.
This policy is designed to position Nigeria to harness the opportunities of the global bio-economy. Think enhanced national competitiveness, foreign investment, stronger food and nutrition security, and accelerated sustainable economic growth. That's the kind of forward-thinking Africa needs.
The FEC also approved Nigeria's membership in the Global Bioenergy Partnership, with the Energy Commission of Nigeria designated as the lead implementing agency for the Nigeria Bioenergy Partnership.
This is Nigeria taking its rightful place on the global stage, not as a follower, but as a leader. From mental health reform to biotech innovation, the message is clear: Nigeria is building a future where care, science, and progress lead the way.
This is the Nigeria we've been waiting for. Bold, compassionate, and unapologetically forward-moving.