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From the towering legacy of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to the entrepreneurial spirit of Ifeanyi Ubah, and the cultural resonance of Onyeka Onwenu, the Igbo community was plunged into mourning as three of its iconic figures died within a week. Iwuanyanwu’s July 25, Ubah’s July 27 and now Onwenu’s July 30 are now etched in memories
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Passengers and crew of a British Airways flight who were taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990 have launched legal action…
The Federal Government is working towards de-criminalising attempted suicide in the country. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day. The commemoration is marked worldwide on September 10 every year. The theme for 2024
Nigerian govt moves to decriminalise attempted suicide
The Federal Government is working towards de-criminalising attempted suicide in the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day.
The commemoration is marked worldwide on September 10 every year. The theme for 2024 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”.
Suicide is a criminal offense in the country but there have been several calls by stakeholders to de-criminalise it.
Captured under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, it says “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”
Pate, therefore, said that the ministry had launched the National Suicide Strategic Framework (2023-2030) to boost mental health and assist in the prevention of suicide.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, the minister said the document identified the risk and protective factors associated with suicide in the country.
He added that it also identified the strategic objectives, interventions, and indicators for suicide prevention, in line with international best practices.
The minister said that available data on suicide in Nigeria is put at 12.9 per 100,000, which is high.
He further said that suicide rates are high among young people aged 15 to 29 years, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the age group in Africa, accounting for 40 percent of all suicide deaths.
He, however, said that the statistics may not fully reflect the true prevalence of suicide in Africa, as all the reporting and stigma surrounding mental health issues remain huge barriers to accurate reporting.
Pate also said there was a strong link between suicide and mental health conditions, and that depression and alcohol use disorders were established links.
According to him, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis, with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life’s stress such as financial problems, relationship issues, breakups, chronic pain, and illness, among so many others.
He, however, said that the theme of the 2024 Global Observance Day is hinged on raising awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicide.
The minister added that changing the narrative means shifting our focus from the tragedy of suicide to prevention.
“It means moving away from taboos, stigma, and discrimination, to empathy and positive cultural change.
“As we stand united, we acknowledge the pain and suffering of those who have lost loved ones to suicide and we affirm our commitment to creating a society that supports and cares for those struggling with mental health issues.
“Suicide prevention is our collective responsibility and we must all be committed to building a society that values mental health, promotes well-being, and provides care for everyone,” he stated.
The Russian Government has said that the United States and the United Kingdom were trying to destroy its relationship with Nigeria by linking the country with the August 1 hunger protest in Nigeria. This was contained in a letter from the Russian Government to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the official Press Secretary
Protests: Western countries trying to destroy our relationship with Nigeria – Russia
The Russian Government has said that the United States and the United Kingdom were trying to destroy its relationship with Nigeria by linking the country with the August 1 hunger protest in Nigeria.
This was contained in a letter from the Russian Government to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the official Press Secretary of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, Yury Paramonov on Friday in Abuja.
DAILY POST recalls that some protesters were seen waving Russian flag and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages during the protest.
Russia has also been accused of involvement in recent political unrest in several West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
This has sparked concerns about external interference in regional affairs.
However, Russia, a global power, alleged that the United States, Britain and Ukraine were linking it with the protests to destroy the cordial relationship between it and Nigeria, urged Nigerian government to ignore the accusation.
Paramonov said the Embassy had conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of Nigeria’s National Day.
“In particular, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference and have further warned that this could happen again in the future.”
“The Embassy categorically rejects such accusations and reiterates that the Russian Federation neither had any involvement in the protests that occurred in the recent past, nor does it have any connection to any potential future demonstrations or unrest.
“Russia has always respected the sovereignty of Nigeria. We strictly adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of independent states.
“The Embassy also extends its best wishes to the people and Government of Nigeria for prosperity and stability, and we hope for continued cooperation and deepening relations between our two countries,” he said.
Protests: Western countries trying to destroy our relationship with Nigeria – Russia