Abortion Laws and the Nigerian Woman: A Case for the Liberalization of Abortion Laws in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria’s restrictive abortion laws that is embedded within the Criminal Code (applicable in southern states) and the Penal Code (applicable in northern states) only permit termination of pregnancy only to save the life of the mother. This restrictive legal framework has contributed significantly to the prevalence of unsafe abortion practices, maternal morbidity, and mortality among Nigerian women. This paper argues for the liberalization of abortion laws in Nigeria based on ethical, human rights, public health, and socio-economic grounds. Using a mixed-method approach. Empirical data from Ekpoma and Irrua (n = 584; in-depth interviews, FGDs, key informants) show a high prevalence of clandestine abortion (32.9% reported ever having an abortion) with most procedures performed outside formal health facilities by patent medicine vendors, traditional practitioners, or via self-induction, resulting in high rates of bleeding, infection, and long-term reproductive harm, while qualitative findings highlight stigma, ignorance of legal provisions, and systemic inequities as key barriers to safe reproductive healthcare. The findings reveal that restrictive abortion laws do not reduce abortion incidence but instead drive the practice underground, resulting in severe complications, psychological trauma, and preventable deaths. The study concludes that liberalization of abortion law accompanied by clear clinical guidelines, improved contraceptive access, and public education would reduce maternal deaths, align Nigeria with regional and global human-rights commitments, and promote the reproductive autonomy of women.