The Catholic Church in Nigeria has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s reported consideration of legalizing abortion.
The Health Promotion Department of the Federal Ministry of Health is allegedly reviewing sections of the Criminal Code to decriminalize abortion, aiming to increase access to safe pregnancy terminations and reduce maternal deaths.
In a statement on Thursday, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) through its Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi, criticized this move, asserting that legalizing abortion conflicts with Nigeria’s Constitution, which upholds the right to life in Section 33.
The Church called for prioritizing public education on reproductive health and human dignity instead of abortion legalization. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has long supported life protection efforts through various teachings and communiqués.
The statement further emphasized the Church’s belief in the dignity of every person, advocating for the inclusion of human dignity education over what it terms as a “culture of death.”
Fr. Samjumi stated, “The unborn child has the right to live and be protected… every human life must be respected and protected, especially the most vulnerable ones in the womb from the moment of their conception.”
The CSN urged Nigerians to resist the legalization of abortion, underscoring that life, from conception, deserves respect and protection.
