The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fully implementing the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) Guidelines to ensure access to safe and legal abortion services as permitted by Nigerian law.
In a statement on Friday, Ogunsola said the renewed focus was part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality through improved access to medically supervised and rights-based reproductive healthcare.
He gave the assurance while speaking at a seminar organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Centre for Bridging Health Gaps, in Abeokuta.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the state’s broader strategy to tackle the health and safety risks of unsafe abortions, particularly among women in low- and middle-income communities.
Speaking on the seminar’s theme, “Breaking Barriers to Safe Termination of Pregnancy to Save Lives,” Ogunsola described unsafe abortion as a public health crisis and one of the top five direct causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
“Unsafe abortion remains one of the top causes of maternal deaths, with about 97 per cent of such cases occurring among women from low- and middle-income backgrounds. These deaths are preventable but continue due to limited access to accurate information, safe services, and the stigma surrounding reproductive health,” he said.
He added that the Ogun State Government would continue to collaborate with healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, and legal experts to strengthen the implementation of the SToP guidelines.
“The right to access safe abortion care within the limits of the law is supported by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which reinforces the state’s duty to protect women’s health and rights through lawful, medically safe reproductive services,” Ogunsola noted.
In her address, the Executive Director of the Centre for Bridging Health Gaps, Dr. Moriam Jagun, described unsafe abortion as one of the most preventable causes of maternal death, yet one that continues to claim lives due to stigma and silence surrounding the issue.
She called for a collective commitment among government agencies, healthcare workers, policymakers, legal experts, faith leaders, and civil society to promote access to safe, legal, and quality abortion care that safeguards women’s health, rights, and dignity.
During a panel session on “Strengthening Abortion Services as Life-Saving Care,” the Director of the Citizens’ Rights Department, Mrs. Oluwakemi Lawal, explained that abortion is legally permissible in cases where pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or physical health — including cases of rape, incest, or cancer. She stressed that such procedures must be carried out only by qualified health professionals in safe and hygienic environments.
A representative of the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr. Olusoji Jagun, added that safe abortion is an essential component of women’s rights, allowing them to make informed reproductive choices without fear of stigma or legal persecution.
He also called for increased public awareness about the Safe Termination of Pregnancy guidelines and the importance of ensuring safe procedures.
Although Nigerian law only permits abortion to save a woman’s life, many abortions are still performed clandestinely and unsafely, contributing significantly to the nation’s high maternal mortality rate.
Nigeria remains among the countries with one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, with unsafe abortion continuing to be a major cause of preventable death, illness, and disability among women.
ADEOLA KUNLE
