Stakeholders from the medical profession, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and security agencies have endorsed the proposed Ogun Safe Pregnancy Termination Bill, 2026, describing the legislation as a significant step towards reducing maternal mortality and providing legal clarity for healthcare professionals in Ogun State.
The support emerged during a public hearing organised by the Ogun State House of Assembly, where participants commended lawmakers for introducing the bill and called for a robust legal framework to regulate safe pregnancy termination under clearly defined circumstances.
Also read: Why Ogun assembly introduced safe termination of pregnancy bill, speaker explains
Speaking at the hearing, Ogun State Commissioner for Health Dr Tomi Coker said the proposed law would establish safeguards to protect the lives and health of women while also offering legal protection to qualified healthcare practitioners providing approved services.
“The bill would help reduce maternal mortality and provide access to mental health services for women and girls experiencing emotional trauma arising from unwanted pregnancy,” Dr Coker said.
Participants at the hearing included former Ogun State Chairman 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, the Nigeria Police Force, religious leaders, traditional rulers and human rights organisations.
Several contributors urged lawmakers to address what they described as legal ambiguity surrounding safe pregnancy termination, arguing that uncertainty in existing laws can delay urgent medical care and expose healthcare workers to unnecessary legal risks.
Stakeholders also called for stronger safeguards to ensure that only licensed medical professionals provide pregnancy termination services.
They stressed the need for measures that would prevent survivors of rape and incest from seeking unsafe procedures from unqualified practitioners.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Wahab Haruna, said the bill was introduced in response to preventable deaths and severe complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth.
“Too many of our mothers, sisters and daughters lose their lives or suffer serious harm from complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth, many of which are preventable,” Hon. Haruna said as he invited stakeholders to contribute to the legislative process.
Earlier, Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly Oludaisi Elemide said the legislation seeks to establish “a legal and institutional framework for the safe termination of pregnancy under the defined circumstances.”
Oludaisi Elemide explained that lawmakers considered the growing incidence of unregulated abortions and the resulting deaths of women and adolescents before introducing the bill.
The Speaker added that the proposal is intended to strengthen safe motherhood, reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, protect legitimate medical practitioners and discourage illegal operators exploiting regulatory gaps.
The public hearing marks the latest stage in the legislative process after the Assembly defended the proposal earlier this month, saying the bill is designed to improve maternal healthcare rather than encourage abortion.
The legislation has attracted significant public debate because Nigeria’s abortion laws remain largely restrictive, with legal termination generally permitted only to save a pregnant woman’s life.
Also read: Why Ogun assembly introduced safe termination of pregnancy bill, speaker explains
The Assembly said all submissions received during the hearing would be carefully reviewed before the bill proceeds to its next legislative stage, as lawmakers seek to develop a balanced legal framework that reflects public health priorities, medical ethics and stakeholder concerns.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
