By Samuel Olusegun Precious
As the debate continues on the bill to criminalise attempted suicide, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has insisted that it should remain a criminal offence in Nigeria, opposing a bill seeking to decriminalize it.
Senator Akpabio stated this on Tuesday during plenary while debating a bill for an Act to establish a framework for suicide prevention and provide medical treatment for survivors.
“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” Akpabio declared.
The Senate President, during the plenary on Tiesday, argued that removing criminal punishment could encourage more people to attempt suicide and called for State Houses of Assembly to be involved in the public hearing to avoid conflict between the Criminal Code and Penal Code. Despite his opposition, the Senate passed the bill for second reading.The bill, titled “A Bill to Establish a Framework for Suicide Prevention, Decriminalise Attempted Suicide and Provide for the Establishment of Support for Persons Who Attempt Suicide, 2026 (SB.730)”, is sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
Senator Ekpenyong said Nigeria’s laws are speaking with two voices – while the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical attention, Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still prescribe jail terms.
He argued that criminalisation discourages people from seeking help, makes families conceal cases, and worsens mental health stigma. The bill proposes to replace imprisonment with mandatory assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, crisis helplines, training for police and health workers, and a national data system.
In his supportof the bill, Senator Dayo Faduyile (Ondo South) said: “The best way to treat anybody who did not succumb to a suicide attempt is actually not to criminalise it. They need help.”
The bill has now been referred to the Senate Committees on Health and Judiciary for further legislative work and public hearing.
