Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the decriminalization of attempted suicide as part of a proposed amendment to the Mental Health Act.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammad Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday after the council’s meeting in Abuja.
Pate said the amendment, which will be sent to the National Assembly, seeks to remove attempted suicide as a criminal offence under Nigeria’s existing Criminal and Penal Codes.
He said the move would shift the country’s approach towards treating people experiencing severe psychological distress as individuals who need care, treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
FEC also approved an executive bill for the establishment of a National Centre for Oral Health.
The council further approved upgrades to the National Hospital, Abuja, including modular clinics, a high-end wing and a Neuroscience Institute.
It also approved the establishment of a N300 billion National Cancer Research and Treatment Centre, which is expected to be completed within 36 months.
The approvals are part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to specialised medical services.
