Abortion in Nigeria
Nigeria has a complex and regionally divided legal framework on abortion. The Northern states, predominantly Muslim and governed by the Penal Code, allow abortion solely to save the life [1], while the Southern states, predominantly Christian and governed by the Criminal Code, recognize exceptions to protect both physical and mental health [2]. Both codes criminalize abortion outside these specific conditions. This division causes confusion among healthcare providers and restricts access to safe abortion services, contributing to high rates of unsafe abortion and maternal mortality.
Is abortion legal in Nigeria?
Abortion in Nigeria is legally permitted only to save the life of the pregnant person. In the Southern states, exceptions also include preserving physical and mental health. Although Nigeria’s Penal Code and Criminal Code establish limited legal exceptions for abortion, more restrictive in the North and slightly broader in the South, access to safe abortion remains severely constrained nationwide. Fear of prosecution, lack of legal clarity, and deeply rooted social stigma discourage healthcare providers from offering services, even when permitted by law.Regional disparities in healthcare infrastructure and inconsistent enforcement further limit availability, particularly for marginalized communities. As a result, most abortions in Nigeria occur outside the formal health system. According to estimates from the Guttmacher Institute and WHO-supported studies, over 600,000 abortions occur annually, the vast majority of them unsafe. Unsafe abortion continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria, which has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world.
Abortion with pills in Nigeria
In-clinic abortion in Nigeria
Support and Resources in Nigeria
Who can I contact for more information about abortion in Nigeria?
Please contact the following organizations to access abortion services and information.
Ms. Rosy Hotline
Confidential Reproductive Health Service
Hotline
+1855 553 1550/ 08097737600/ 08097738001
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Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH)
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
Hotline
+234 2 751 5772 (Daytime) OR +234 802 354 2889 OR +234 706 596 4489
Website
https://arfh-ng.org/Connect
Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPA SL)
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
Marie Stopes International Nigeria
Post abortion care (PAC) information and support or for safe abortions that are legally allowed.
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