Lawyers Alert, a non-governmental organisation, has urged Nigerian authorities to reform restrictive abortion laws, advocating for safer access to termination of unplanned pregnancies, particularly for survivors of sexual violence. The call was made during a two-day training in Abeokuta, Ogun State, focused on the judiciary’s role in advancing reproductive rights.
Legal practitioner Bamidele Jacobs, speaking at the event, highlighted that Nigerian law currently permits termination only when a woman’s life is at risk. This excludes survivors of rape, incest, and sexual assault from legal, safe procedures. Jacobs argued that this framework effectively enforces forced pregnancy in such cases, exacerbating physical harm, psychological trauma, and social stigma.
He stressed that Nigeria’s stance contradicts the Maputo Protocol, an African human rights treaty the country has ratified. The protocol guarantees women’s reproductive autonomy, including the right to safe medical termination in cases of rape, incest, or when pregnancy endangers a woman’s life or health. Non-compliance, Jacobs noted, drives unsafe abortions, contributing to an estimated 6,000 preventable deaths annually—representing 13 to 30 per cent of Nigeria’s maternal mortality. The nation’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 1,047 per 100,000 live births, with over 60 per cent of terminations performed unsafely.
Jacobs pressed for legislative alignment with the Maputo Protocol, urging states to decriminalise safe termination, protect healthcare providers, and expand access to reproductive healthcare, especially in underserved regions. He cited Ogun State’s Safe Termination of Pregnancy Guidelines as a model for adoption. Additionally, he called for robust public education to reduce stigma and improve awareness of reproductive rights.
The training assembled legal professionals, health advocates, and community leaders to strategise on judicial and policy interventions. It aimed to foster a clearer understanding of reproductive rights and the legal pathways to ensure safe, lawful access to termination services across Nigeria.
The advocacy underscores a critical public health and human rights issue, linking restrictive laws directly to maternal mortality. With the judiciary positioned as a key agent for change, stakeholders are pressing for concrete legal reforms to bring national practice in line with regional obligations and reduce preventable deaths.
