A Non-Governmental Organisation, Lawyers Alert, has called for the advancement of reproductive rights in Nigeria, emphasising the need for safe access to termination of unplanned pregnancies.
The call was made during a two-day training organised by LA at the H3 Event Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, under the theme: “The Judiciary and Advancing Reproductive Rights in Nigeria,” according to a statement on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, legal practitioner Bamidele Jacobs highlighted the challenges faced by women and girls who become pregnant as a result of rape by insurgents, bandits, or through incest. He noted that Nigeria’s restrictive laws on safe termination of pregnancy compel survivors to carry such pregnancies to term.
“National law only permits termination where a woman’s life is at risk, excluding survivors of sexual violence from lawful, government-supported access to safe termination of pregnancy,” Jacobs said.
He added, “Indeed, this legal framework converts rape and incest into state-enforced forced pregnancy, intensifying physical harm, psychological trauma, and social stigma.”
Jacobs emphasised that Nigeria’s laws contradict the country’s obligations under the Maputo Protocol, which allows termination in cases of rape and incest. He noted that non-compliance drives unsafe procedures, resulting in an estimated 6,000 preventable deaths annually, accounting for 13–30 per cent of maternal deaths in the country.
“In fact, Nigeria records a maternal mortality ratio of 1,047 per 100,000 live births, and over 60 per cent of terminations are performed unsafely,” Jacobs said.
He pointed out that Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol guarantees women’s reproductive autonomy, including access to safe medical termination in cases of rape, sexual assault, incest, or where pregnancy endangers a woman’s life, physical or mental health. Nigeria, as a signatory, has yet to align its national laws with these standards.
Jacobs urged the state to reform laws that criminalise safe termination of pregnancy, adopt legislation consistent with the Maputo Protocol, and support initiatives such as Ogun State’s Safe Termination of Pregnancy Guidelines.
“So, the states should protect healthcare providers, expand access to reproductive healthcare—especially in underserved areas—and strengthen public education to reduce stigma and improve rights literacy,” he said.
The training, which brought together legal practitioners, health advocates, and community stakeholders, aimed to raise awareness of reproductive rights and the role of the judiciary in advancing safe and legal access to termination of pregnancy in Nigeria.
