As the world marks the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, Nigeria is confronted with a self-murder crisis that remains largely hidden behind stigma and silence, with an estimated 15,000 deaths annually and criminalisation of attempted self-murder in the country, discouraging people in distress from seeking help.
Nigeria is among the few nations where survivors of self-murder attempts may face imprisonment under Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code.
The Federal Government has however reaffirmed its commitment to decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria, setting December 2025 as the target date for the reform.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, stated this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the narrative on suicide, creating hope through action.”
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 720,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds, and 73 per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
A Professor of Psychiatry at Obafemi Awolowo University and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Adesanmi Akinsulore, revealed that Nigeria ranks sixth globally among countries with the highest self-murder rates.
Mr Akinsulore explained that while men account for nearly 79 per cent of self-murder, women are more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts. He stressed the urgent need for collaborative action, particularly among young people and students, where the problem is most acute.
The real scale of the problem is believed to be far higher than reported. Fear of prosecution and entrenched social stigma mean many cases go unrecorded.
According to the Lifeline International report, which cited the WHO, for every person who dies by suicide, at least 20 others make an attempt.
In Nigeria, this translates to more than 300,000 people in suicidal distress each year, many of whom are left without safe avenues to seek help.
The impact is not limited to individuals. For every life lost, at least six others, relatives, friends or colleagues, struggle with the emotional and psychological aftermath.
