FG to decriminalise attempted suicide by December 2025

The Federal Government has announced plans to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria by December 2025, according to Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

Pate disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day.

Every year, September 10 is observed globally to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 720,000 people die by suicide annually. About 73 per cent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

In Nigeria, attempted suicide remains a crime under Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes.

Experts have long argued that the punitive approach discourages distressed individuals from seeking help and deepens stigmatisation.

To change this, the Federal Government inaugurated a National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide on October 10, 2024.

The taskforce is mandated to guide the country’s shift from punishment to a public health–driven, compassionate response.

Speaking at the briefing through Daju Kachollom, the Permanent Secretary, the minister noted that with increased public awareness, early identification of warning signs, improved access to mental health care, and compassionate community support, suicide rates can be significantly reduced.

“And this year’s theme calls on us to replace silence with dialogue, shame with empathy, and stigma with understanding.

“It reminds us that our words matter, our attitudes matter, and our collective actions matter.

“Recognising the urgency for reform, the Federal Government took decisive action and, on the 10th of October 2024, the ministry inaugurated a national taskforce on the decriminalisation of attempted suicide.

“The taskforce was mandated to guide the transition from punishment to a compassionate, public health-oriented response, with a clear target to actualise decriminalisation by December 2025, which means we have less than four months.”

He added that a government white paper had been finalised and a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021—now the National Mental Health Act Amendment Bill 2025—had been developed to repeal punitive provisions in the Criminal and Penal Codes.

The minister confirmed that he has reviewed and adopted the draft white paper and amendment bill as the official position of the Ministry.

He further explained that statutory engagements were ongoing with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for additional input.

“After this, I will be presenting a memo at the Federal Executive Council for an Executive Bill on Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide,” he said.