Post Edited: Nigeria’s long road to repealing Colonial-era Lunacy law regulating mental health
Yet, there is no mental health law in place in Nigeria other than the Regional Lunacy Law of 1958. The law in content and context violates the fundamental human rights of persons with mental health and psychosocial disabilities, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, a senator and sponsor of the new bill said.
Last October, a new mental health bill was introduced. This time, it passed second reading a month later, after the lawmakers debated the provisions of the bill. Hosted by Mr Oloriegbe, the committee chairman, the hearing saw the minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, pitted against promoters of the bill.He said the health ministry should be allowed to come up with a more comprehensive executive bill. Mr Oloriegbe, however, disagreed with his position.
Mr Mamora would eventual yield after Mr Oloriegbe’s comment drew unanimous support from advocates of the bill.Mental health has historically been neglected on Nigeria’s health and development policy agenda. Faced with many challenges, including intractable poverty, infectious diseases, maternal and child mortality, as well as insurgency, Nigerian leaders often overlook the importance of mental health.
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