Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a proposal to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that survivors should be imprisoned despite calls to treat suicide attempts as mental health emergencies.
Akpabio made his position known on Tuesday, October 13, as the Senate passed for second reading a bill seeking to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical treatment, rehabilitation and other support services.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, also proposes crisis helplines, training for police officers, teachers and health workers, public awareness campaigns and a national data system to strengthen suicide prevention.
During deliberations, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed. If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison.”
Turning to Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, the Senate President noted that the proposed legislation had yet to reach the public hearing stage.
“Senator Ningi, we are not yet at the public hearing. But you can see what is going on. He (Ekpenyong) is saying anybody who attempts it and does not die, we should rehabilitate the person.”
Ekpenyong, however, urged lawmakers to reconsider the existing approach, arguing that criminalisation worsened the stigma surrounding suicide attempts and discouraged survivors from seeking help.
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“Mr President, it is beyond that. I am only addressing the stigma associated with it. For now, we believe this 10th Senate can change and decriminalise it. It is a mental health issue,” he said.
Akpabio reiterated his opposition, saying, “If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you.”
He also called for careful consideration of the proposal, noting that attempted suicide was addressed under both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code.
He said state legislatures would need to be involved in the public hearing to avoid legal conflicts.
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s laws were contradictory because the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring intervention, while Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code prescribe criminal punishment.
He warned that criminalisation could discourage people from reporting suicidal thoughts, seeking medical assistance or supporting affected relatives.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.
The proposed legislation would prioritise medical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up care over imprisonment.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further consideration, including a public hearing. Its passage for second reading does not mean it has become law.