By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
Stakeholders across the health, security, traditional, religious and civil society sectors have expressed support for the Ogun State House of Assembly’s proposed Safe Termination of Pregnancy Bill, 2026, describing it as a vital piece of legislation that could help reduce maternal deaths, protect healthcare professionals and provide legal clarity for managing pregnancy related emergencies.
The endorsement was made on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the Assembly, where participants unanimously called for the passage of the bill while urging lawmakers to incorporate safeguards that would ensure proper implementation and prevent abuse.
Among those who addressed the hearing were former Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Azeem Adekunle Ashimi, representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), the Nigeria Police Force, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the Centre for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities, as well as traditional and religious leaders.
The stakeholders said the proposed legislation would eliminate legal ambiguities surrounding the safe termination of pregnancy, noting that uncertainty in existing laws had often delayed emergency medical interventions, resulting in preventable maternal deaths. They also advocated legal protection for qualified medical practitioners acting within the provisions of the law and stressed that only licensed healthcare professionals should be authorised to provide such services, particularly in cases involving rape, incest and other medically recognised circumstances.
Speaking at the hearing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the proposed law was primarily aimed at saving lives by creating a legal framework that protects both women requiring emergency pregnancy care and healthcare workers providing treatment in line with the law.
According to her, the bill seeks to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of women while also shielding medical practitioners who render services in accordance with legal provisions. She added that the legislation would help reduce maternal mortality and expand access to mental health support for women and girls suffering emotional trauma resulting from unwanted pregnancies.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Wahab Haruna, said the bill was prompted by the need to address the persistent challenge of preventable maternal deaths in the state. He lamented that many women continue to die or suffer severe complications from pregnancy and childbirth despite the fact that many of the cases could be prevented, urging stakeholders to make constructive contributions to enrich the legislation.
Declaring the public hearing open, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, said the proposed law would establish a clear legal and institutional framework for the safe termination of pregnancy under specified conditions. He expressed concern over the increasing rate of unsafe and unregulated abortions, which he said had contributed significantly to avoidable deaths among women and adolescents.
Elemide noted that the legislation was intended to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, protect legitimate healthcare professionals and curb the activities of unqualified operators exploiting loopholes in the system. He assured participants that all submissions made during the public hearing would be carefully considered before the Assembly takes a final decision on the bill.
