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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a proposed legislative move to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, reigniting debate over whether people who survive suicide attempts should face criminal punishment or receive medical and psychological support. Akpabio’s position places him among those who believe that the existing legal framework should not be abandoned without carefully considering its implications. However, the proposal has drawn attention to a longstanding controversy in Nigeria’s criminal justice system: whether a person who attempts to take their own life should be treated as an offender or as someone who may be experiencing a serious mental health crisis. The debate comes amid growing calls from mental health advocates and legal experts for a more compassionate approach to suicide prevention and the treatment of survivors.
The proposed reform seeks to remove criminal penalties for attempted suicide, a move that supporters consider necessary to bring Nigeria’s laws closer to modern public health principles. Under the current legal framework applicable in parts of the country, attempting suicide can attract criminal sanctions. Section 231 of the Criminal Code Act provides for imprisonment of up to one year for a person who attempts to kill themselves, while Section 327 of the Penal Code applicable in certain northern jurisdictions also criminalises attempted suicide. These provisions have faced increasing criticism from those who argue that criminal punishment does little to address the underlying circumstances that lead a person to attempt suicide. The precise legislative proposal and the stage it has reached in the National Assembly remain important to establishing what changes, if any, may eventually be made to the law.
Akpabio’s opposition has brought the issue into sharper focus because of his position as President of the Nigerian Senate and his influence over legislative discussions. His reported insistence that survivors should face imprisonment rather than rehabilitation reflects a punitive approach to the issue. Those who support decriminalisation, however, argue that a suicide attempt should prompt immediate attention to the person’s safety, mental health and personal circumstances, rather than an automatic response through the criminal justice system. They maintain that imprisonment cannot substitute for professional assessment, counselling or treatment where these are needed. The disagreement highlights a fundamental question for lawmakers: should the state respond to attempted suicide primarily through punishment, or should its first responsibility be to prevent further harm and provide appropriate care?
One of the major concerns raised by opponents of criminalisation is that the threat of arrest and prosecution may discourage people who survive suicide attempts from seeking medical assistance. Families may also hesitate to report incidents or disclose the circumstances surrounding an attempt if they fear that their loved ones could be prosecuted. In emergencies, such hesitation can have serious consequences, particularly when a survivor needs urgent medical treatment or psychological intervention. Advocates of reform argue that people must be able to seek help without fear of being treated as criminals. They believe that removing the threat of prosecution could encourage earlier intervention, improve access to support services and make it easier for health professionals to respond effectively to people experiencing suicidal distress.
The mental health implications of the debate are equally significant. Suicide attempts may occur in the context of severe emotional distress, depression, trauma, financial difficulties, relationship problems, substance use or other complex circumstances. However, it is important not to assume that every person who attempts suicide has the same diagnosis or has acted for the same reason. Each situation requires careful assessment by qualified professionals. Mental health advocates argue that criminal punishment does not resolve the difficulties that may have contributed to an attempt and could potentially deepen a survivor’s distress. From this perspective, the priority should be to establish what support the individual needs, reduce the risk of another attempt and ensure that appropriate care is available.
The issue also raises important questions about Nigeria’s constitutional and human rights obligations. The right to life is protected under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while Section 34 guarantees the right to dignity of the human person. Although the precise legal implications of these provisions in cases involving attempted suicide require careful interpretation, the debate invites lawmakers to consider how criminal law should interact with human dignity, public health and the protection of vulnerable individuals. Supporters of decriminalisation contend that the law should not compound the suffering of someone who has survived a potentially life-threatening crisis. They argue that a modern legal system should prioritise prevention, treatment and rehabilitation while maintaining appropriate safeguards for public welfare.
Those opposed to decriminalisation may argue that removing criminal penalties could send the wrong message about the seriousness of suicide or weaken society’s responsibility to protect human life. Such concerns form part of the broader moral and legal debate surrounding the issue. Nevertheless, decriminalisation does not mean endorsing suicide or treating it as an insignificant matter. Rather, it means changing the legal response to the person who survives an attempt. Under a public health approach, suicide prevention remains a priority, but the response focuses on reducing risk, providing emergency care, supporting affected families and addressing factors that may contribute to suicidal behaviour. Lawmakers must therefore distinguish between preventing suicide and punishing people who have attempted it.
Nigeria’s healthcare system presents another important dimension to the discussion. Access to mental health services remains uneven, and many people face financial, social or cultural barriers when seeking professional support. In some communities, mental health difficulties are still surrounded by stigma, making it difficult for individuals to discuss their experiences openly. If attempted suicide is decriminalised without adequate investment in healthcare and support services, survivors may still struggle to obtain the assistance they need. Advocates therefore argue that legal reform should be accompanied by stronger mental health services, crisis intervention programmes, public education and training for healthcare workers. The objective should be to establish a system in which people in crisis can access timely, affordable and appropriate assistance.
The controversy surrounding Akpabio’s reported position is likely to keep the question of attempted suicide and criminal liability in the public conversation. As the National Assembly considers the relevant legal and policy questions, lawmakers will need to examine the existing provisions, available evidence and experiences of countries that have adopted different approaches. Consultation with mental health professionals, human rights organisations, legal practitioners, affected families and suicide attempt survivors could help ensure that any decision reflects the realities faced by vulnerable people. The debate also presents an opportunity to improve public understanding of suicide prevention and challenge the assumption that criminal punishment is necessarily the most effective response to every form of harmful behaviour.
Ultimately, the disagreement over decriminalising attempted suicide is about more than the wording of a criminal statute; it concerns how Nigerian society responds to people experiencing profound distress. Akpabio’s opposition has placed the punitive approach back in the spotlight, while supporters of reform continue to argue that survivors need treatment, protection and a genuine opportunity to recover. Any eventual legislative decision will have implications for criminal justice, public health and the willingness of vulnerable people to seek help. As discussions continue, the central challenge for lawmakers is to develop a response that protects human life, respects human dignity and addresses the circumstances that may lead people to attempt suicide. A society committed to prevention must ensure that people who survive such crises have a clear path towards assistance and recovery rather than being left to face their difficulties alone.
