The unified Mental Health Bill has been signed into law by President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired).
The Lunacy statute of 1958 will be replaced by the Bill, which was reconciled by the Senate and House of Representatives in 2021.
Prof. Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria, who confirmed the signing, called it a huge relief for the country’s mental health profession and care.
He was reported as stating, “A final culmination to over two decades of many efforts by the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria now has an Act/Law on Mental Health governance and we are now part of the world space with best global practice.”
In expressing gratitude to important participants, Shielk added, “Our sincere gratitude to Senator Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Senator Ahmad Abubakar, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, CBM International, Johnson & Johnson, and all our partners. By His Grace, we succeeded at the goal after several efforts.
With the new law, the 1958 Lunacy Act, which experts regard as antiquated and barbaric, will no longer be in force.
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Among the provisions of the National Mental Health Bill are the creation of a Department of Mental Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health and a Mental Health Fund.