By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo State House of Assembly has pledged accelerated passage of the Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025.
The bill is aimed at protecting the lives of young people, especially females, across the state and Nigeria.
The assurance was given on Wednesday during a public hearing held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Medical practitioners, civil society organizations, legal experts, women’s groups, youth representatives, and other stakeholders attended and submitted memoranda to contribute to the bill.
The engagement was jointly organized by the House Committee on Health and the Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development.
In his address, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Rilwan Saminu, said the bill is intended to provide a framework for prevention, awareness, education, support services, regulation, and monitoring to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
The lawmaker said many young girls and women face unplanned pregnancies that disrupt their education, careers, family life, and future aspirations.
He explained that the House will ensure 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 of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Olufunke Olajide, expressed confidence that the deliberations would enrich the legislative process and contribute meaningfully to a healthier and more prosperous Oyo State.
She noted that the hearing marked 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.
Hon. Olajide emphasized that prevention is the core strategy. She expressed confidence that the House of Assembly would do justice to the bill and that Governor Seyi Makinde would sign it into law once passed.
Presenting a memorandum on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, advocated 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 said complications that follow induced abortions show the need for adequate skills and appropriate technology for safe termination of pregnancy. She noted that 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 safe termination of pregnancy,” she said.
“Comprehensive abortion care includes the provision of information, abortion management, care related to pregnancy loss and 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 Unplanned 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 ministry stated.
The recommendations in the memorandum are offered in good faith and are intended to produce a bill that is legally sound, internally consistent, and practically implementable once enacted.
Other stakeholders who participated in 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.
