Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, has defended the proposed Safe Termination of Pregnancy Bill, saying the legislation is intended to reduce maternal mortality and will undergo a comprehensive legislative review to ensure it aligns with Nigeria’s Constitution and existing laws.
The bill, titled H.B. No. 036/OG/2026, Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026, passed its second reading during plenary on Tuesday at the Ogun State House of Assembly in Abeokuta before being referred to the House Committee on Health for further consideration.
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Speaking after lawmakers debated the proposal, Elemide said the bill was introduced to address preventable maternal deaths by establishing legal conditions under which pregnancy could be safely terminated in medically recognised circumstances.
“The bill was introduced to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, promote safe motherhood and reproductive health rights and establish the conditions for the safe termination of pregnancy in accordance with legal indications,” the Speaker said.
Elemide sought to allay public concerns surrounding the proposed legislation, assuring residents that the House Committee on Health and other relevant stakeholders would carefully examine every provision before it progresses further.
He said the review process would ensure the bill does not conflict with the Constitution, existing federal laws or other applicable legislation while meeting its intended public health objectives.
Earlier, the sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Wahab Haruna, described the proposal as a crucial response to the persistent challenge of maternal mortality and morbidity in Ogun State.
Haruna said the bill seeks to provide a clear legal and medical framework for pregnancy termination by qualified medical practitioners in approved health facilities, particularly where the life of a pregnant woman is at risk.
Several lawmakers supported the proposal during the debate. Babatunde Tella said the legislation would encourage safe medical intervention in high-risk pregnancies where termination is medically necessary.
Lukman Adeleye argued that the bill reflects internationally recognised reproductive healthcare practices and would establish legal safeguards for pregnancy termination in circumstances permitted by law.
He added that it could also help protect victims of rape from further trauma while contributing to lower maternal mortality rates.
Oluseun Adesanya, Yusuf Sheriff and other lawmakers also backed the bill, saying it would improve access to appropriate medical information and interventions needed to safeguard women’s health.
The proposed legislation comes amid continuing national discussions on reproductive health, maternal mortality and the legal framework governing abortion in Nigeria.
Under existing Nigerian law, abortion is generally prohibited except where it is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, making any proposed reforms a subject of significant legal, medical and public debate.
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Following its second reading, the bill now moves to the House Committee on Health, where lawmakers and stakeholders are expected to scrutinise its provisions before it returns to the Assembly for further legislative consideration.
Maryam Idris is a reporter and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
