The alarming reality of unsafe abortions in Nigeria: A call to action – By OYAWIN

Unsafe abortion is a significant public health concern in Nigeria, contributing to the country’s high maternal mortality ratio.

Under Nigerian law, abortion is permitted only when the mother’s life is at risk. However, unsafe abortions remain a leading cause of maternal deaths and complications, claiming an estimated 50,000 women’s lives annually.

The lack of documentation and the prevalence of unorthodox procedures—carried out by traditional healers, roadside medicine dealers, and poorly trained practitioners—fuel this alarming figure. Poverty also plays a role, as many families living on less than a dollar per day cannot afford contraception.

Despite restrictive laws, very few prosecutions occur, largely due to poor evidence gathering, delays in the courts, and the fact that abortion is not a reportable crime. Most cases only surface when complications arise, often under the shadow of stigma.

The consequences of unsafe abortion are severe. They include sepsis, hemorrhage, pelvic inflammatory disease, adhesions, infertility, and, in many cases, death. Survivors often struggle with lasting guilt in a society where fertility and childbearing are highly valued.

Complications from unsafe abortion account for 10–30% of maternal deaths in Nigeria. Estimates show that about 610,000 unsafe abortions occur annually, resulting in around 20,000 deaths and 285,000 women suffering complications. Unsafe abortion is said to account for nearly 40% of maternal deaths, with Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio among the highest globally—1,500 women per 100,000 births.

Adolescents, women with limited education, and those in underserved communities are most at risk. Restrictive laws, lack of contraception, stigma, and poor education worsen the crisis. Social barriers force many women into unsafe procedures that could have been prevented with access to proper healthcare and information.

The Olabode Youth and Women Initiatives (OYAWIN) has described unsafe abortion as a silent killer, yet one that is preventable. According to the NGO, the right policies, awareness, and community support can save countless lives.

OYAWIN’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Moruf Olabode, said the fight for safe abortion, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and bodily autonomy is a fight for justice, equality, and human dignity. He stressed that with women’s lives at stake, delay is no longer an option.

He further called for ending stigma in healthcare by training providers to offer compassionate, rights-based care without discrimination. He urged the Nigerian government to invest in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and empower young people with knowledge about contraception, safe abortion, and bodily autonomy.

Olabode Youth and Women Initiatives (OYAWIN) is a youth- and women-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the rights, health, and empowerment of adolescent girls and women, particularly in underserved and rural communities across Nigeria.