Dep. Chief Whip pledges support for legislation against suicide

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, said she is willing to facilitate any legislation to curb the “rising trend of suicides” in Nigeria. Onyejiocha spoke at a conference organized by the Nigerian Medical Association in the FCT to discuss and fashion a way to curb the trend.

“If you find anything we should do in terms of motions and bills, bring it to us. I am ready to take any motion, any bill on behalf of any Nigerian.”

Daily Trust reports that at least 51 Nigerians were reported to have committed suicide in the first six months of this year, with 11 of them being students. Reports also said females were more likely to attempt suicide, while males were three times more likely to successfully kill themselves.

Onyejiocha linked the higher male-female ratio of attempted suicides to pressures that stem from neglect of women.

Also speaking Dr Tayo Daramola, a Consultant and Head of Behavioural Medicine at Karu General Hospital, noted the rising cases of suicide among the youth.

“There are a lot of factors that may be peculiar to young people. They could be personality issues, depression and substance use, which are common among young people.”

Dr Joseph Eziechila, a vice president of the NMA in the FCT, described the trend as “troubling” especially for countries like Nigeria with a relatively youthful population.

“To lose them to suicide has grave consequences for economic growth”.