The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) is urging immediate reform of Nigeria’s abortion laws, arguing that criminalization fuels unsafe abortion and avoidable maternal deaths.
WARDC issued this appeal on Monday through a statement marking the 2026 International Safe Abortion Day, themed “Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care.”
The organization stated that Nigeria cannot meaningfully cut maternal mortality as long as unsafe abortion continues to be a preventable source of death and severe harm among women and girls.
WARDC noted that Nigeria still carries one of the heaviest maternal mortality burdens globally, with roughly 1,000 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023.
It pointed out that unsafe abortion has been identified as one of the contributors to maternal deaths in the country.
WARDC further referenced a nationally representative study estimating that 1.25 million abortions took place in Nigeria in 2012, with around 212,000 women receiving treatment for complications from unsafe abortion.
The organization added that an estimated 285,000 women suffered serious complications without getting the care they needed.
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, WARDC’s Executive Chairperson and an Associate Professor of Public Law, said Nigeria must shift away from an approach focused mainly on criminalization toward a clear, rights-based, and medically regulated framework for abortion care.
“A widely cited national estimate puts deaths from unsafe abortion at about 6,000 women annually, although WARDC notes that this is an estimate and abortion-related deaths may be underreported or misclassified,” the statement partly read.
The organization voiced specific concern regarding adolescents, pointing to UNICEF figures that show Nigeria’s adolescent birth rate stands at 75 births for every 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19.
It noted that adolescent pregnancy was considerably more common in rural communities and added that young girls who conceived as a result of rape or incest needed protection, healthcare, and dignity, not further trauma, stigma, and the danger of unsafe abortion.
The organization stated that such reforms ought to spell out clearly when abortion was legal, safeguard confidentiality and informed consent, oversee qualified providers and facilities, reinforce referral systems, and guarantee access to quality post-abortion care. It further demanded measures to shield women and girls from unsafe practices, coercion, and discrimination.
WARDC consequently called on the federal government, the National Assembly, state governments, and other stakeholders to give priority to legal and policy reforms, investment in the health system, and accurate public information concerning abortion and reproductive health.
The organization added, “No woman should lose her life because she could not access safe healthcare. No child should be pushed deeper into trauma because of a pregnancy resulting from rape.
“Nigeria cannot reduce maternal mortality while ignoring unsafe abortion. It is time to move from criminalization to safe, regulated, and rights-based abortion care.”
