By Atlantic Reports

The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish coordinated prevention, treatment and support services.

Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, the proposed legislation would create a legal and institutional framework for responding to people experiencing severe psychological distress.

Following a voice vote, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the committees responsible for health and judiciary, human rights and legal matters for further consideration.

The bill remains under legislative review. Its passage at second reading is not final approval and does not, by itself, remove existing criminal penalties.

Protection Rather Than Prosecution

Leading the debate, Ekpenyong said Nigeria’s laws presented conflicting approaches to attempted suicide.

He told lawmakers that the National Mental Health Act recognised it as a psychiatric emergency requiring intervention, while Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code prescribed criminal punishment.

“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 argued that fear of prosecution and stigma could discourage people from seeking help and lead families to conceal attempts, delaying care and weakening data collection.

He said the proposal sought to prioritise prevention, treatment and the preservation of life.

Care Beyond Decriminalisation

The senator said the bill would provide for crisis helplines, referral pathways and follow-up care for people who survived suicide attempts.

It also proposes public education and training for healthcare workers, police officers, teachers and emergency responders to recognise warning signs and connect people with appropriate services.

Ekpenyong called for psychosocial support for affected families, alongside research and improved data collection to inform prevention policies.

He stressed that removing criminal penalties without providing accessible care would be incomplete. The proposed institutional and funding framework is intended to support those services, although the supplied account did not detail funding amounts or implementation arrangements.

Committee Review Comes Next

Other senators supporting the bill argued that people experiencing severe emotional distress needed professional care and support, and that detention or imprisonment would not address their underlying needs.

They called for cooperation among healthcare professionals, schools, families, law enforcement agencies and government institutions.

Ekpenyong said committee scrutiny would provide an opportunity to harmonise the proposal with existing criminal, mental health and relevant state laws. Lawmakers also highlighted the importance of public consultation and professional input before further legislative action.

The next stage will test both the proposed legal changes and the practical arrangements for care. For survivors and families, meaningful reform will depend on timely treatment, accessible support and sustained funding alongside any removal of criminal penalties.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.