Ogun govt commits to safe, legal abortion to cut maternal deaths

The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) guidelines to ensure access to medically supervised and legally permissible abortion services across the state.

The assurance was given by the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, on Friday.

Dr Ogunsola made the statement during a seminar organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Centre for Bridging Health Gaps, themed “Breaking Barriers to Safe Termination of Pregnancy to Save Lives.”

He said the move was necessary to reduce maternal mortality by addressing the risks associated with unsafe abortion, particularly among women in low- and middle-income communities.

“There is an urgent need to address unsafe abortion as a public health crisis,” Dr Ogunsola said.

“Unsafe abortion remains one of the top five direct causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria, with an alarming 97 per cent of such cases occurring among women from low- and middle-income backgrounds. These preventable deaths are often the result of limited access to accurate information, safe services, and the stigma surrounding reproductive health.”

He emphasised that the government would work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, and legal experts to strengthen the implementation of the SToP guidelines.

“The right to access safe abortion care within legal boundaries is supported by provisions in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This constitutional backing reinforces the state’s responsibility to protect the health and rights of women and girls through lawful and medically safe reproductive health services,” he said.

Dr Moriam Jagun, Executive Director of the Centre for Bridging Health Gaps, highlighted that unsafe abortion continues to endanger the lives of vulnerable women and girls across Nigeria and West Africa. She urged stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, legal experts, and faith leaders, to work together to improve access to evidence-based, life-saving care within the legal framework.

During a panel discussion, Mrs Oluwakemi Lawal, Director of the Citizens’ Rights Department, noted that legal abortions in Nigeria are permitted where the pregnancy poses a danger to the mother’s life or physical health, including cases of rape, incest, or severe medical conditions.

She stressed that terminations should be performed by qualified health professionals in safe, hygienic environments.

Dr Olusoji Jagun of the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria reinforced that safe abortion services uphold women’s rights to make informed decisions without fear of legal or social repercussions.

He called for public awareness campaigns on the Safe Termination of Pregnancy guidelines to prevent maternal deaths, ill health, and disability resulting from unsafe procedures.

Nigeria continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally, with unsafe abortion remaining a major contributor to preventable maternal deaths.