The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the federal government to increase funding for mental health services and expand access to affordable care across the country.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made the call in a statement to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day, stressing that mental health is both a medical issue and a fundamental human rights concern.
Ojukwu said people living with mental health conditions often face stigma, discrimination, neglect, and abuse, while limited access to healthcare and health insurance further compounds their challenges.
He noted that Nigeria has taken steps through the National Mental Health Act, 2021, and the National Mental Health Policy, but stressed the need for effective implementation and adequate funding.
The NHRC Executive Secretary disclosed that the Commission had established a counselling unit at its headquarters, trained investigation officers on mental health and human rights, and intervened in cases involving children and adults subjected to solitary confinement and other human rights violations.
He also revealed that the Commission was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to mainstream human rights into Nigeria’s proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027 to 2032.
Ojukwu urged the government to strengthen health insurance coverage, train more mental health professionals, and protect vulnerable persons from discrimination and degrading treatment.
He also called on the media, families, religious leaders, and communities to promote awareness and discourage stigma, insisting that no one should be denied dignity or abandoned because of a mental health condition.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
