A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Abortion and reproductive health rights in Nigeria remain deeply contested and constrained by a complex interplay of legal restrictions, religious doctrines, socio-cultural norms, and inadequate health infrastructure. Nigeria’s abortion laws are among the most restrictive in the world, criminalizing abortion except where necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman. These legal limitations have contributed to a widespread prevalence of unsafe abortion practices, which are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Despite international and regional human rights obligations recognizing women’s rights to health, privacy, and bodily autonomy, Nigerian law continues to place severe restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion. The legal framework regulating reproductive health in Nigeria reflects colonial-era statutes, largely unchanged despite evolving global standards and local realities. This legal rigidity is further reinforced by patriarchal structures, religious opposition, and socio-cultural stigma that marginalize women’s reproductive choices. The impact is disproportionately borne by poor, young, and rural women who lack access to quality reproductive health services and are more likely to resort to unsafe procedures. A critical examination of the intersection between abortion law, public health, and human rights in Nigeria reveals the urgent need for reform. Unsafe abortion not only endangers lives but also places a significant burden on the healthcare system. The denial of safe abortion services infringes upon constitutional rights to life, dignity, and health, and undermines Nigeria’s commitments under international treaties such as CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol. While there have been pockets of advocacy and judicial intervention, progress remains slow and fragmented. Reforming Nigeria’s abortion laws and strengthening reproductive health rights require a holistic, rights-based approach that incorporates legal reform, public health policy, education, and cultural reorientation. Greater involvement of civil society, judicial activism, and legislative responsiveness is essential to advancing gender equality and protecting the reproductive autonomy of women and girls in Nigeria.