Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has thrown his weight behind a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, advocating a compassionate, health-centred framework for prevention, treatment, and support for survivors.
The proposed legislation, which passed its second reading during plenary, seeks to establish a comprehensive national framework for suicide prevention and replace punitive measures with clinical evaluation, rehabilitation, and structured medical care.
Speaking on his legislative contributions, Kalu emphasized that individuals experiencing severe psychological distress require state care and protection rather than criminal prosecution.
He noted that prioritizing treatment over criminal punishment is essential for dismantling the social stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging at-risk individuals to seek help, and fostering recovery.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) aims to resolve existing statutory contradictions between the National Mental Health Act which recognizes attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency and penal laws that criminalize the act.
Following debate on its general principles, the Senate referred the bill to its Committees on Health and Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further legislative processing and public hearings.