The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has openly opposed a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that anyone who attempts to take his or her own life and survives should be sent to prison.

Akpabio made his position known on Tuesday during plenary while lawmakers were debating the general principles of the Suicide Prevention Bill, 2026, which was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District.

The Senate President, who presided over the session, declared that as far as the Senate was concerned, suicide remains a criminal offence under the existing laws of the country and should continue to be treated as such.

In his remarks that have generated reactions across the country, Akpabio said survivors of suicide attempts should face imprisonment, arguing that the law should be firm on the matter.

“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,” Akpabio said during the debate.

He repeated the same position later in the course of the debate, restating his view that unsuccessful suicide attempts should attract jail terms for those involved.

“If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you. So, if you attempt it, you better succeed,” the Senate President declared on the floor of the Red Chamber.

Akpabio maintained his opposition to the proposal even as the Senate voted to pass the bill for second reading, a development that allows the proposed legislation to proceed to the next stage of legislative work.

He also pointed out that the Senate had not yet conducted a public hearing on the bill, noting that such a hearing would be necessary to get the views of stakeholders before a final decision is taken.

The bill, which seeks to remove criminal punishment for attempted suicide and reframe it as a public health issue, was presented by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who argued that the current legal framework in Nigeria is contradictory and inconsistent.

Leading the debate, Ekpenyong drew the attention of his colleagues to the conflict between the National Mental Health Act and the provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code on attempted suicide.

According to him, while the Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency that requires urgent medical attention and intervention, the criminal laws still prescribe punishment for the same act.

“Our law presently speaks with two voices. The National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate intervention,” Ekpenyong said.

He added, “Yet Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code continue to expose the same person to criminal punishment.”

The lawmaker warned that criminalising attempted suicide could have serious negative consequences, including discouraging persons experiencing suicidal thoughts from seeking help or speaking out.

He explained that the fear of prosecution, coupled with the stigma associated with suicide, could force families to hide cases of attempted suicide and prevent health workers from properly documenting and reporting such incidents.

“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,” Ekpenyong said.

He urged his fellow senators to reflect on the appropriate response of the state when a citizen survives a suicide attempt, whether such a person should be punished or protected and supported to recover.

“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 his colleagues.

Ekpenyong argued that passing the bill would send a clear message that suicide prevention is a collective national responsibility and that persons in acute psychological distress deserve care and treatment rather than imprisonment.

“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 told the chamber.

The senator further clarified that removing criminal liability for attempted suicide would not in any way encourage the act or legalise suicide in the country.

According to him, the bill also does not seek to excuse or protect any person who aids, abets, procures or encourages another person to commit suicide, as such actions would remain criminal offences.

“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,” Ekpenyong stressed.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, seconded the motion for the second reading of the bill but requested further clarification on how the proposed law would actually help in preventing suicide.

Nwoko sought to know the concrete measures and practical steps the bill intends to put in place to address the root causes of suicide and provide support for vulnerable persons.

Also speaking, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, raised concerns about the legal implications of amending the existing criminal justice framework to accommodate the new proposal.

Bamidele noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which the bill seeks to amend in some respects, does not automatically apply across all states, as each state must domesticate it for it to have effect within its jurisdiction.

He therefore urged the Senate to carefully examine the constitutional and legal consequences of the proposed amendment to ensure that it would be applicable and effective nationwide.

On his part, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, commended Senator Ekpenyong for sponsoring the bill, describing it as a timely and important intervention that deserves thorough consideration.

Ningi said the bill would provide an opportunity for medical doctors, psychologists, legal experts, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the discourse on suicide prevention.

He also argued that persons who attempt suicide should not be automatically branded as criminals without taking into account the circumstances, mental health conditions and psychological challenges that may have led them to such actions.

The Suicide Prevention Bill, 2026, proposes a shift from punitive measures to a comprehensive public health approach in handling cases of attempted suicide in Nigeria.

Under the proposed framework, the bill seeks to establish crisis helplines, mandatory medical assessments, referral services, rehabilitation programmes and follow-up care for survivors of suicide attempts.

It also seeks to promote public awareness on mental health, train police officers, teachers and healthcare workers on how to handle suicide-related cases, and establish a national data system to monitor and strengthen suicide prevention efforts.

According to the provisions of the bill, persons who survive suicide attempts would be provided with appropriate medical care, counselling and sustained support to aid their recovery, rather than being subjected to imprisonment and criminal prosecution.

After extensive deliberations, the Senate referred the bill to its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Health for further legislative work, including the conduct of a public hearing to collate inputs from stakeholders.