Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that people who survive suicide attempts should face imprisonment.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday during plenary as the Senate considered the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South.
“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” Akpabio said, according to reports by TheCable and Channels Television.
Despite his opposition, the Senate passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the relevant committees on health and judiciary, human rights and legal matters for further consideration.
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s laws were inconsistent because the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical intervention, while existing criminal laws prescribe punishment for the act.
He said criminalising attempted suicide could discourage people in distress from seeking help, cause families to conceal such incidents and make it harder for health authorities to obtain reliable data for suicide prevention.
Ekpenyong said the proposed law would replace punishment with medical assessment, treatment, referral and continuing support for survivors. It also seeks to establish a framework for crisis helplines, public education and coordinated suicide prevention services.
“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 senator maintained that decriminalisation would not encourage suicide but would allow survivors to receive appropriate care instead of facing prosecution.
Other senators supported the proposal, arguing that attempted suicide should be treated primarily as a medical emergency. However, concerns were also raised about how the proposed legislation would apply across states and interact with existing laws.
The bill will undergo further legislative consideration, including committee review and a public hearing, before the Senate decides on subsequent steps.
