The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an amendment to Nigeria’s mental health legislation that will decriminalise attempted suicide, signalling a major shift in the government’s approach from punishment to treatment, care and psychosocial support.
The decision was announced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting.
Pate said the proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act would be forwarded to the National Assembly as an executive Bill for consideration and passage.
According to the minister, the reform is intended to end the continued application of what he described as colonial-era legal provisions that criminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria.
Under the proposed framework, individuals who attempt suicide would no longer primarily be treated as offenders. Instead, they would be regarded as people experiencing serious psychological distress and in need of professional medical, psychological and social intervention.
Pate explained that the government’s objective was to change the way Nigerian society and public institutions respond to people at risk of self-harm.
He argued that individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or who have attempted to take their own lives need treatment and support rather than prosecution.
“The idea is that attempting suicide is not a crime,” the minister said, explaining that the proposed amendment would replace the current punitive approach with one centred on care and support.
He likened the existing legal framework to punishing a person for suffering from an illness, arguing that mental health conditions should be approached with compassion and appropriate medical intervention just like other health conditions.
“So it’s changing the paradigm to one whereby they require care and support,” he added.
The minister said suicide remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, citing World Health Organisation statistics indicating that more than 7,000 people die by suicide annually in the country.
He also said an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts occur in Nigeria every year, underscoring the scale of the mental health challenge confronting the country.
Despite the magnitude of the problem, Pate said attempted suicide remains a criminal offence under existing Nigerian laws, including Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code.
He argued that the continued criminalisation of attempted suicide could discourage vulnerable people from seeking medical or psychological assistance.
Individuals who survive suicide attempts may fear arrest, prosecution or social stigma, potentially preventing them from reporting suicidal thoughts or seeking urgent care.
According to Pate, the existing provisions are also inconsistent with the philosophy and principles of the National Mental Health Act, which provides for the treatment, protection and supportive care of people experiencing mental health challenges or those at risk of self-harm.
The proposed amendment would therefore seek to harmonise Nigeria’s legal framework with a more public-health-oriented understanding of suicide and self-harm.
The government’s position reflects a growing international recognition that suicidal behaviour is frequently associated with complex psychological, social and environmental factors requiring professional intervention.
Under the proposed approach, people who survive suicide attempts could be referred for appropriate medical and psychosocial support instead of being subjected primarily to criminal proceedings.
The reform could also have implications for the way healthcare workers, police officers, families and communities respond to people experiencing suicidal distress.
Rather than viewing a suicide attempt solely as a criminal act, the government intends to encourage a response that prioritises assessment, treatment, counselling and rehabilitation.
Pate’s announcement also places mental health more firmly within Nigeria’s broader public health agenda.
For decades, mental health concerns in Nigeria have often been accompanied by stigma, limited access to psychological services and inadequate public awareness. The proposed decriminalisation is expected to contribute to a broader shift towards recognising mental health as an essential component of overall wellbeing.
The amendment, however, still requires legislative approval before it becomes law.
The executive Bill will now be transmitted to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will consider its provisions and determine whether to pass the proposed changes.
The outcome of the legislative process will determine when and how the new legal framework takes effect.
The planned reform has the potential to change the experience of thousands of Nigerians who may otherwise face criminal justice consequences after surviving suicide attempts.
It also represents an acknowledgement by government that suicide prevention requires more than policing and punishment.
Beyond changing the law, the success of the reform will depend on the availability of mental health professionals, counselling services, emergency interventions and community-based support systems capable of responding to people in crisis.
There is also likely to be increased emphasis on public education to help Nigerians recognise warning signs associated with suicidal behaviour and encourage early intervention.
Pate’s comments suggest that the Federal Government sees the amendment as part of a broader effort to modernise Nigeria’s mental health system and ensure that people experiencing psychological distress receive appropriate care.
The reform could also encourage greater collaboration among healthcare providers, social workers, psychologists, families, religious organisations and community leaders in addressing suicide prevention.
For many mental health advocates, decriminalisation is viewed as an important step towards reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help before a crisis becomes fatal.
The government will now look to the National Assembly to consider the proposed amendment and advance the legislative process.
If passed and signed into law, Nigeria would move away from a long-standing criminal justice approach to attempted suicide and towards a framework that treats the issue primarily as a mental health and public health concern.
The decision by the Federal Executive Council therefore marks a significant policy shift, but the effectiveness of the reform will ultimately depend on implementation, access to mental healthcare and society’s willingness to respond to people in distress with compassion rather than condemnation.
