The Oyo State House of Assembly has pledged to give accelerated passage to a bill, Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025, targeting to protect the life of young people particularly females across the state and Nigeria at large.
The assurance was made during a Public Hearing held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan on Wednesday, where medical practitioners, civil society organizations, legal experts, women’s groups, youth representatives, and other stakeholders present and submit memoranda to make valuable contributions to the Bill.
The engagement was jointly organized by the House of Assembly Committee on Health and on Women Affairs and Community Development.
In his address, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Rilwan Saminu, said the Bill is intended to provide a framework for prevention, awareness, education, support services, regulation, and appropriate monitoring mechanisms aimed at reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortion
The lawmaker said many young girls and women face unplanned pregnancies that have disrupted their education, careers, family life, and future aspirations.
He explained that the House will ensure that any law enacted serves the best interest of the people of Oyo State while promoting public health, protecting lives, and strengthening family and community values.
Also in her goodwill message, Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Olufunke Olajide expressed confidence that the deliberations will enrich the legislative process and contribute meaningfully to the development of a healthier and more prosperous Oyo State.
She noted that the hearing marks a key step before the bill moves to a third reading. The lawmaker further disclosed that families bear the burden through school dropouts and health complications affecting daughters, while communities face additional social and economic strain from the menace.
Honourable Olajide who emphasized that prevention is the core strategy, expressing confidence that the House of Assembly will do justice to it and that Governor Makinde will sign it into law once passed.
Presenting the memorandum on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, advocated the protection, confidentiality, access to timely healthcare, and legal accountability for survivors of rape, incest and reproductive exploitation.
The Commissioner also recommended amendments to strengthen clarity, operational feasibility, inter-sectoral collaboration, and survivor-centred care, in line with national laws and public health principles.
Dr. Ajetunmobi who said complications that follow induced abortions showed that adequate skills and appropriate technology was responsible for safe termination of pregnancy, noting that over 80% of induced abortions are performed by doctors in private settings
“Over 80% of induced abortions are performed by doctors in private settings. Data on legal terminations in Nigeria are lacking, but the worsening trend and the complications that follow induced abortions indicate a lack of skills and appropriate technology for the safe termination of pregnancy.
“Comprehensive abortion care includes the provision of information, abortion management (including induced abortion), care related to pregnancy loss/spontaneous abortion, and post-abortion care.
“Strengthening access to, comprehensive abortion care within the health system is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Gender Equality (SDG 5).
The representative of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice described the Bill as a timely, and progressive legislative initiative that will reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the State while protecting the reproductive rights and dignity of women and girls.
“The Oyo State Unintended Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025 is a timely and progressive legislative initiative that, if guided by necessary recommendations and thoughtfully implemented, has the potential to significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the State while protecting the reproductive rights and dignity of women and girls.
The recommendations in this memorandum are offered in good faith and are intended to produce a Bill that is legally sound, internally consistent, and practically implementable once it is enacted.”
Other Stakeholders, who participated at the event, appealed to the Oyo State House of Assembly to critically examine issues raised on the Bill to arrive at a law that will serve the best interests of the people of Oyo State.
