The Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Rilwan Gbadamosi Saminu, has called for collective action to address the growing challenges of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion, describing them as major public health concerns affecting families and communities across the state.
Speaking at the public hearing on the Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025, Saminu noted that many young girls and women face unintended pregnancies that disrupt their education, careers, family life, and future aspirations.
The hearing, organised by the Oyo State House of Assembly in collaboration with PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), attracted over 70 stakeholder groups, including professional bodies, religious organisations, civil society groups, women’s associations, and development partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Saminu, the proposed bill seeks to establish a framework for prevention, awareness creation, education, counselling, support services, regulation, and monitoring mechanisms aimed at reducing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion.
“As legislators, our responsibility is to consider all viewpoints and ensure that any law enacted serves the best interests of the people of Oyo State while promoting public health, protecting lives, and strengthening family and community values,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, called for amendments to strengthen the bill and improve implementation. He recommended changing the title to reflect a broader focus on reproductive health and maternal health protection and proposed replacing the term “unplanned pregnancy” with “unintended pregnancy.”
Ayinde also urged lawmakers to define gestational limits, provide emergency exceptions where necessary, align the legislation with the National Guidelines on Legal Termination of Pregnancy, and strengthen child protection measures. He further advocated clearer definitions of key terms and supported mandatory reporting of rape and sexual abuse cases.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Olufunke Olajide, said the issue extends beyond health concerns and affects education, economic opportunities, emotional well-being, family stability, and community development.
She described the bill as an opportunity for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on prevention, awareness, support systems, the protection of vulnerable individuals, and responsible reproductive health choices.
The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Olubunmi Awe, also backed the proposed change from “unplanned” to “unintended” pregnancy, arguing that it more accurately reflects circumstances such as rape, incest, reproductive exploitation, and contraceptive failure.
Awe called for harmonisation of the bill with existing state laws and policies and stressed the need for adequate funding to support survivors of sexual violence and ensure effective implementation of the legislation.
The Executive Director of PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation, Mr Obatunde Oladapo, urged lawmakers to give favourable consideration to the bill, describing it as a critical step towards protecting women and girls from preventable health risks.
He said the proposed legislation represents an opportunity for Oyo State to respond proactively to public health challenges affecting women, girls, families, and communities. Oladapo also advocated sustainable funding, stronger institutional support for gender-based violence and reproductive health programmes, and closer integration of the bill with existing support structures.
Providing an overview of the bill, Mr Sadiq Olawoju, Clerk of the House Committee on Health, clarified that the legislation is not intended to legalise abortion but to address the public health challenges associated with unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion.
According to him, the bill seeks to prevent unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sexuality education, counselling, awareness campaigns, and access to family planning information. It also provides safeguards such as informed consent, confidentiality protections, medical oversight, and special support for minors and survivors of sexual violence.
Olawoju said the public hearing offered stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to a law that balances public health concerns, human dignity, and the welfare of the people of Oyo State.
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Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi, Executive Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), also expressed strong support for the Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025, describing it as a progressive and rights-based piece of legislation.
She noted that women already face unplanned pregnancies and often resort to unsafe procedures, making a regulated and safe framework essential for protecting lives.
According to Dr Akinyode-Afolabi, the bill is a critical public health intervention aimed at reducing maternal deaths and complications arising from unsafe abortion practices, as it would promote women’s health, human rights, and social justice while addressing inequalities in access to reproductive healthcare.
She commended the bill’s emphasis on prevention through comprehensive reproductive health education, counselling, and strong oversight mechanisms.
She urged lawmakers to pass the legislation, stating that it would strengthen accountability, protect vulnerable women and girls, and position Oyo State as a leader in advancing women’s rights and health.
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