The Senate president says survivors should be jailed, while sponsor Asuquo Ekpenyong argues the law should offer treatment, not punishment, as the bill heads to committees
The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, despite opposition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said survivors should be jailed.
Akpabio’s opposition to the suicide bill
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday during debate on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, sponsored by Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South. He said attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence “for now” and that removing the penalties could encourage the act.
“If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you,” he said.
Akpabio noted that the Senate had yet to hold a public hearing on the bill.
The bill passed by voice vote and was referred to the committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further consideration, including a public hearing.
What the suicide bill proposes
The bill would replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical treatment, rehabilitation and support. It seeks to establish a framework for suicide prevention, early intervention and long-term care for survivors.
It provides for crisis helplines, medical assessment, referral services, rehabilitation and follow-up care. It also aims to raise public awareness, train police officers, teachers and health workers, and set up a national data system to strengthen prevention.
Under the proposed framework, survivors would get a medical assessment, treatment and continuing support instead of imprisonment.
Why Ekpenyong wants attempted suicide decriminalised
Ekpenyong said Nigeria’s laws send conflicting messages. The National Mental Health Act treats attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention, while Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still expose survivors to punishment.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices,” he said.
He argued that criminalisation can discourage people from disclosing suicidal thoughts or seeking help. It may push families to conceal attempts, he said, and lead health workers to avoid full reporting and communities to treat a medical emergency as a source of shame. Stigma and poor data, he added, also weaken national prevention efforts.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question,” Ekpenyong said. “When a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?”
He said decriminalising an attempt would not legalise or encourage suicide, and would not excuse anyone who procures, encourages or assists another person to take their life. He added that removing criminal penalties would not be enough without accessible mental health services.
Senators raise legal concerns over the suicide bill
Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, seconded the motion for second reading but asked Ekpenyong to explain how the bill would prevent people from taking their own lives in practice.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised concerns about the legal reach of the amendments. He noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act must be adopted by state Houses of Assembly to apply in their jurisdictions, which raises questions about the bill’s nationwide effect.
Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, commended the sponsor. He said the second reading would let medical professionals, legal experts and other stakeholders contribute to the debate. He added that people who attempt suicide should not automatically be treated as criminals without considering the circumstances.
Other senators supported the bill, arguing that suicidal behaviour can be linked to depression and other mental health challenges that need professional help.
Under existing criminal laws, attempted suicide remains punishable by imprisonment, though provisions and penalties vary across jurisdictions. The bill now goes to committees, where a public hearing will be held.
