Healthcare and legal professionals across Nigeria and the diaspora have called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the Mental Health Act, warning that the continued delay is undermining national development and worsening the country’s mental health crisis.
The call was made at the second Mental Health and Law Colloquium, themed “From Mental Health Legislation to Action: The Time is Now”.
The event, held in a hybrid format, brought together mental health experts, legal practitioners, policymakers, and advocates united in their demand for swift action.
Dr. Agboola, Provost of Aro Psychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, who addressed journalists after the colloquium, expressed concern that more than two years after the Act was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, its implementation has remained stalled due to bureaucratic red tape.
“The Act is a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but bureaucratic bottlenecks are stalling its implementation,” Dr. Agboola stated.
“The law mandates the establishment of a Department of Mental Health, and this has become a sticking point for some government officials.
“Meanwhile, mentally ill individuals are part of our population—children, women who may want to give birth, the elderly. Their needs are like anyone else’s.”
Signed into law in 2023, the Mental Health Act seeks to provide a legal and institutional framework for the care, treatment, and protection of people living with mental illnesses.
It also outlines the responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments, addresses funding gaps, and provides safeguards for the rights of patients.
Dr. Agboola emphasised that the time for action is now, urging the Ministry of Health to establish a dedicated mental health desk as a critical first step.
“This colloquium is a wake-up call. It’s time to stop merely passing laws and start acting on them,” he said.
He also noted that key stakeholders at the colloquium included the current Minister of Health and former Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who played a pivotal role in pushing the bill through the National Assembly.
The legislative journey of the Mental Health Act, he recalled, began under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, only reaching the finish line under Buhari’s tenure.
Comparing Nigeria to its smaller West African neighbour, Dr. Agboola criticised the country’s poor track record in mental health provision.
“Ghana provides new psychiatric drugs free of charge. In Nigeria, even wealthy patients struggle to afford basic mental health treatment,” he said.
He warned that failure to address mental illness could have serious economic consequences. “Depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide.
It often masquerades as physical illness, leading people to waste money on needless tests, while the root problem remains untreated. A sick workforce equals a sick economy.”
The implementation of the Act, he argued, would not only benefit patients but also provide legal protection and ethical guidelines for healthcare workers, particularly psychiatrists.
He disclosed that Aro Psychiatric Hospital is planning a series of training workshops for stakeholders, including medical staff, legal professionals, journalists, and community leaders to create broader awareness of the Act’s provisions.
Concluding with a strong appeal, Dr. Agboola said: “The theme of this year’s colloquium is Mental Health:
The Time to Act is Now. We need the media, social influencers, and the general public to pressure all tiers of government to do the needful.
Mental illness can affect anyone—regardless of age, status, or background. We must act now.”
Stakeholders reiterated that the full enforcement of the Mental Health Act would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, ensuring dignity, protection, and treatment for millions suffering in silence.
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