By Jelili Gbadamosi
Stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the Ogun State House of Assembly’s proposed Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026, describing it as a critical step towards reducing maternal mortality and strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
The support was expressed during a public hearing on Thursday, where participants commended the Assembly for initiating the bill aimed at providing a legal framework for safe pregnancy management and protecting healthcare professionals.
Declaring the hearing open, Speaker Oludaisi Elemide said the proposed legislation would establish clear legal and institutional guidelines for the safe termination of pregnancy under defined circumstances while protecting qualified medical practitioners from unnecessary legal risks.
He added that the bill would curb illegal abortion practices by ensuring that only licensed professionals provide such services, thereby reducing maternal morbidity and mortality across the state.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Wahab Haruna, said the legislation became necessary because many women continue to die or suffer severe complications from preventable pregnancy-related conditions. He urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions, assuring them that their recommendations would be considered before the bill is passed.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the proposed law would safeguard women’s health, provide legal protection for healthcare professionals and improve access to mental health services for women and girls facing unwanted pregnancies.
Stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and traditional institutions, endorsed the bill. They also called for legal protection for qualified medical practitioners and measures to ensure that victims of rape and incest receive care only from licensed healthcare providers.
