The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre has called on the Federal Government to reform Nigeria’s abortion laws, arguing that criminalisation contributes to unsafe procedures and preventable maternal deaths.
The organisation made the call in a statement issued to mark the 2026 International Safe Abortion Day, with the theme, “Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care.”
WARDC said Nigeria would struggle to significantly reduce maternal deaths while unsafe abortion remained a preventable cause of serious complications and death among women and girls.
The group cited Nigeria’s high maternal mortality burden and said unsafe abortion was among the recognised contributors to maternal deaths. It also referenced a nationally representative study that estimated about 1.25 million abortions took place in Nigeria in 2012, with approximately 212,000 women treated for complications linked to unsafe abortion.
WARDC Executive Chairperson, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the country needed to move beyond an approach focused mainly on criminalisation and establish a clearer, medically regulated framework for abortion care.
The organisation also expressed concern about adolescents and women whose pregnancies result from rape or incest. It said such cases require access to healthcare, protection and dignity, alongside appropriate support.
Among the reforms proposed by the group are clearer rules on when abortion is lawful, protection of patient confidentiality, informed consent, regulation of qualified healthcare providers and facilities, stronger referral systems and improved post-abortion care.
WARDC urged the Federal Government, National Assembly, state governments and other stakeholders to combine legal and policy reforms with investment in healthcare and accurate reproductive-health information.
The group said its objective was to reduce deaths and serious injuries associated with unsafe abortion while ensuring that women and girls can access appropriate healthcare within a regulated system.