The International Day of Safe Abortion

-SEB EDITORIAL-

International Day of Safe Abortion and the Realities of Unsafe Abortions in Nigeria

Every year on September 28, the world observes the International Day of Safe Abortion, a day dedicated to affirming the right to safe, legal, and accessible abortion care. It is not merely a symbolic gesture but a global call to action, especially in countries like Nigeria where the realities of unsafe abortion are grim and deeply entrenched in systemic failures.

In Nigeria, abortion remains heavily restricted under the law. It is only legally permissible when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk. This narrow exception leaves millions of women, particularly those who are young, poor, or living in rural areas, without access to safe procedures. As a result, many are forced to seek clandestine abortions performed by untrained individuals using unsafe methods in unhygienic environments. The consequences are devastating: Nigeria accounts for a significant portion of the estimated 47,000 global deaths annually due to unsafe abortions.

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), a leading voice in reproductive rights advocacy, has been vocal about the urgent need for reform. On this year’s International Safe Abortion Day, WARDC’s Founding Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, emphasized that access to safe abortion is a matter of dignity, bodily autonomy, and health. She described the current situation as a “systemic failure to protect women’s rights and lives,” urging the Nigerian government to review its abortion laws, expand access to contraceptives, and stop criminalizing women and healthcare providers acting within ethical bounds.

The statistics are staggering. According to the Guttmacher Institute, Nigeria saw approximately 1.25 million induced abortions in 2012, with a rate of 33 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–49. Yet, three out of five abortions in the country are unsafe, contributing to a maternal mortality ratio that remains among the highest in the world. In Akwa Ibom State, for instance, the maternal mortality rate stands at 774 deaths per 100,000 live births, a figure that underscores the urgent need for interventionDaily Post Nigeria.

Efforts to address this crisis are slowly emerging. The Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) guidelines, adopted in six Nigerian states including Akwa Ibom, represent a rights-based approach to reproductive health. These guidelines provide legal backing for terminating pregnancies that pose health risks to the mother. However, awareness and implementation remain limited. Many healthcare providers are still unaware of the guidelines, and dissemination efforts are ongoing.

A landmark victory came in June 2025 when Nigeria’s Federal High Court ruled in favor of abortion rights for survivors of sexual violence. The court recognized that forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape violates her right to physical and mental health. This decision, supported by the Reproductive Justice Initiative Foundation and the Center for Reproductive Rights, marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward reproductive justice.

Despite these gains, the road ahead is long and fraught with resistance. Misinformation, stigma, and deeply rooted cultural taboos continue to cloud public discourse. But the message from advocates is clear: safe abortion is not a privilege, it is a human right.

The International Day of Safe Abortion serves as a reminder that silence and inaction cost lives. It is time for Nigeria to confront the harsh realities of unsafe abortion and commit to protecting the health, dignity, and autonomy of its women.