Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that survivors should be jailed.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday during debate on the suicide prevention bill 2026, sponsored by Asuquo Ekpenyong, senator representing Cross River south.
The bill seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical treatment, rehabilitation and other support measures.
The senate passed the bill for second reading, allowing it to proceed to further legislative consideration.
However, during the debate, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence under existing laws.
“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,” he said.
While noting that the red chamber had yet to hold a public hearing on the proposed legislation, the senate president reiterated his opposition to the bill.
“If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you. So, if you attempt it, you better succeed,” he said.
EKPENYONG SEEKS SHIFT FROM PUNISHMENT TO TREATMENT
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong said Nigeria’s legal framework was inconsistent because the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention, while the Criminal Code and Penal Code continue to criminalise the act.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention,” the lawmaker said.
“Yet section 327 of the Criminal Code and section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment.”
He argued that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage people experiencing suicidal thoughts from seeking help and lead families to conceal suicide attempts for fear of prosecution or stigma.
“Criminalisation can discourage people from disclosing suicidal thoughts or seeking help. It may cause families to conceal attempts, health workers to avoid complete reporting, and communities to treat a medical emergency as a source of shame,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to reconsider the country’s approach to people who survive suicide attempts, asking whether the first response should be prosecution or protection.
“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.
Ekpenyong said the proposed legislation would affirm that suicide prevention is a public health responsibility and that people in psychological distress should receive care rather than punishment.
“By supporting its second reading, this senate will affirm that suicide prevention is a national public health responsibility, and that a person in acute distress should be helped to recover rather than punished for surviving,” he said.
He maintained that decriminalising attempted suicide would not amount to endorsing suicide or excusing people who encourage or assist others to take their lives.
“Decriminalising an attempt does not legalise or encourage suicide. Neither does it excuse anyone who procures, encourages, or assists any other person to take his or her life,” he said.
The senator added that removing criminal penalties would not be sufficient without accessible mental health services, stressing that suicidal behaviour often results from complex circumstances that require a compassionate, health-focused response.
SENATORS RAISE LEGAL CONCERNS
Ned Nwoko, senator representing Delta north, seconded the motion for second the motion for the bill’s second reading but questioned how the legislation would effectively prevent people from taking their own lives.
He asked Ekpenyong to clarify the bill’s objectives and the practical measures it proposed to prevent suicide.
Other senators supported the proposal, arguing that suicidal behaviour could be associated with depression and other mental health challenges requiring professional intervention.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, raised concerns about the legal implications of amending the existing criminal justice framework, particularly the application of federal legislation across the states.
He noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act requires adoption by state houses of assembly for application within their respective jurisdictions, raising questions about the nationwide reach of the proposed amendments.
Bamidele urged lawmakers to consider the legal implications carefully to ensure that the reform achieved its intended purpose.
Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, commended Ekpenyong for bringing the issue before the senate, describing it as an important subject that deserved wider public and professional debate.
Ningi said the bill’s second reading would allow medical professionals, legal experts and other stakeholders to contribute to discussions on suicide prevention and the treatment of survivors.
He stated that people who attempt suicide should not automatically be regarded as criminals without consideration of the circumstances surrounding their actions.
BILL PROPOSES CRISIS HELPLINES, REHABILITATION
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a framework for suicide prevention, early intervention, medical treatment and long-term support for survivors.
It would provide for crisis helplines, medical assessment, referral services, rehabilitation and follow-up care for people who survive suicide attempts.
The bill also seeks to promote public awareness, train police officers, teachers and healthcare workers, and establish a national data system to strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
Under the proposed framework, survivors would receive appropriate medical assessment, treatment and continuing support rather than face imprisonment.
Following the debate, the senate passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the relevant committees on judiciary and health for further legislative consideration, including a public hearing.
