“If you attempt to commit sui¢ide, you better succeed, or we will send you to jail” – Says Akpabio
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed a proposed bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that individuals who survive suicide attempts should face imprisonment rather than rehabilitation.
Akpabio made his position known on Tuesday during debate on a bill sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, which passed its second reading in the Senate.
The bill seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with medical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and other support services for survivors.
Speaking during the debate, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide remained a criminal offence under Nigeria’s existing legal framework.
“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.
The Senate President later reiterated his position, stating that anyone who attempted suicide but survived should be jailed.
“If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you,” Akpabio declared.
He also explained that the proposed reform required careful consideration because attempted suicide was covered under both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code.
According to him, state legislatures would need to participate in the public hearing to ensure that changes to the law did not create conflicts within the country’s legal system.
However, the bill’s sponsor, Ekpenyong, urged lawmakers to reconsider the existing criminal provisions, arguing that attempted suicide should be treated as a mental health emergency rather than a criminal offence.
“Mr President, it is beyond that. I am only addressing the stigma associated with it. For now, we believe this 10th Senate can change and decriminalise it. It is a mental health issue,” he said.
Presenting the bill, Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s legal framework contained conflicting approaches to suicide attempts.
He explained that while the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention, Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still prescribe criminal punishment.
“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention. Yet Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment,” the senator said.
Ekpenyong warned that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage vulnerable people from seeking help or disclosing suicidal thoughts for fear of prosecution.
He added that the existing provisions could also cause families to conceal suicide attempts and discourage healthcare workers from reporting cases appropriately.
The senator urged his colleagues to support a system that prioritises care, protection and recovery for people experiencing psychological distress.
“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 proposed legislation also seeks to establish crisis helplines, improve access to mental health treatment and rehabilitation, and provide specialised training for police officers, teachers and healthcare workers.
Other provisions include public awareness campaigns and a national data system to strengthen suicide prevention efforts and improve coordination among relevant institutions.
If passed into law, the proposed framework would require survivors to receive medical assessments, treatment, referrals and follow-up care instead of facing imprisonment.
The bill has passed its second reading and has been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further consideration, including a public hearing.
Its passage for second reading does not amount to final approval, and Nigeria’s existing laws remain in force pending any legislative amendment.
