Senate proposes zonal autism centres, Natasha calls for early diagnosis

The Senate has begun consideration of a bill to establish a National Centre for Autism with six zonal hubs for research, diagnosis and support services for Nigerians living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), said the move would institutionalise early detection, intervention and nationwide inclusion for children and adults with autism.

“This Bill seeks to correct the anomaly that has left families to navigate this challenge alone,” she said, adding that many children with autism are still wrongly labelled “stubborn, mentally ill or possessed”, leading to abuse and exclusion.

The proposed hubs will be established in Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Abuja, serving as referral, diagnostic and training centres.

Quoting World Health Organisation figures, she noted that one in every 100 children globally is diagnosed with autism, though Nigeria’s rate may be much higher due to poor awareness and limited diagnostic capacity.

Describing the bill as “an act of social justice, empathy and national foresight”, Akpoti-Uduaghan said it would deliver “a federal response to a developmental and public-health challenge”.

The bill received broad support and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative work.