The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for urgent government action to address abuses against Nigerians living with mental health conditions, warning that fewer than three per cent of affected persons are covered by health insurance.
The commission said inadequate funding, limited access to treatment, shortages of trained professionals and widespread stigma continued to prevent many Nigerians from receiving appropriate mental healthcare.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, raised the concerns in Abuja during activities marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day. He urged the Federal Government to increase investment in mental health services, expand insurance coverage and strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting people with mental health conditions.
Ojukwu warned that people experiencing mental health challenges continued to face discrimination, neglect and treatment that violated their fundamental rights.
He maintained that mental health should be treated not only as a medical issue but also as a human rights concern requiring coordinated action by government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
“A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” he said.
The NHRC chief stressed that affected persons were entitled to equal treatment, respect, appropriate medical care and the opportunity to participate fully in society.
He added that mental health conditions should not be used as grounds to deny individuals their autonomy, exclude them from their communities or subject them to degrading treatment.
NHRC Raises Concern Over Solitary Confinement
Highlighting cases handled by the commission, Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC had intervened in cases involving children and adults with psychosocial disabilities who were subjected to solitary confinement in Kano State.
According to him, the affected persons were subsequently moved to a welfare facility following the commission’s intervention.
He also recounted a case in the Federal Capital Territory in which a child was rescued from a woman living in what he described as an extremely distressing and inhuman condition associated with her mental state.
Ojukwu said the incidents illustrated the need for professional healthcare, protection and social support rather than punishment, abandonment or abuse.
He called for stronger oversight of mental healthcare facilities to prevent unlawful confinement, neglect and other violations of the rights of vulnerable persons.
Calls for More Funding, Insurance Coverage
The commission urged the Federal Government to expand affordable mental health services through primary healthcare centres and strengthen health insurance arrangements to make treatment more accessible.
Ojukwu also called for the recruitment, training and deployment of more psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, psychiatric nurses and social workers to address the shortage of specialised personnel.
He said poverty and the high cost of treatment had placed additional pressure on individuals and families, particularly those already struggling with the effects of violence, displacement and insecurity.
Citing World Health Organisation estimates, he noted that nearly one in seven people globally lived with a mental disorder, while many requiring care were unable to access effective treatment.
He identified survivors of terrorism, abductions, armed violence, gender-based violence, torture and human trafficking as groups that often require mental health and psychosocial support.
According to him, psychological trauma can affect survivors’ relationships, daily activities and ability to participate meaningfully in society.
He therefore urged authorities to move beyond public awareness campaigns and invest in accessible services, trained personnel, insurance coverage and community-based support.
NHRC Seeks Full Implementation of Mental Health Law
Ojukwu expressed concern over the gap between Nigeria’s legal commitments and the experiences of people living with mental health conditions.
Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act provides a legal framework for mental healthcare and the protection of affected persons. The country also has a National Mental Health Policy and a National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework.
However, the NHRC executive secretary said these instruments would have limited impact without effective implementation, adequate funding and accountability for abuses.
He called for the full implementation of the National Mental Health Act and Policy, noting that people with mental health conditions continued to encounter discrimination in education, employment, housing and community life.
Ojukwu said some affected persons were also denied the opportunity to make decisions about their lives, undermining their dignity and fundamental rights.
Commission Expands Support for Vulnerable Persons
The NHRC executive secretary disclosed that the commission had established a Counselling Unit at its headquarters to provide emotional support to victims of human rights violations and traumatic experiences.
The unit also assists commission personnel who may experience emotional distress while handling cases involving violence, abuse, bereavement and other forms of human suffering.
He said the commission’s Human Rights Institute had organised training for investigation officers to help them recognise mental health and psychosocial concerns, respond appropriately to vulnerable complainants and identify cases requiring professional intervention.
Ojukwu added that the establishment of the commission’s Vulnerable Group Department had strengthened its capacity to address the needs of disadvantaged populations, including people experiencing mental health challenges.
The NHRC had also collaborated with the Taipei Trade Office and civil society organisations to provide grants and free mental health sessions to some indigent women who were victims of human rights violations.
According to him, the commission was working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to incorporate human rights considerations into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027–2032.
He said the proposed plan could provide a coordinated national framework for mental healthcare, but its success would depend on funding, implementation and measurable improvements in access to services.
The commission had also participated in training organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on drug prevention, treatment and care, with emphasis on the relationship between substance use, mental health and human rights.
Ojukwu advocated a rights-based approach to drug-related challenges, including access to treatment, rehabilitation and psychosocial support.
Stakeholders Urge Action Against Stigma
In a goodwill message, the Founder of the Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, Ameh Zion, called for stronger implementation of the National Mental Health Act and greater collaboration among government institutions, civil society groups and development partners.
Zion said people experiencing depression, psychosis, trauma and psychosocial disabilities should not lose their dignity or fundamental rights because of their conditions.
He identified stigma, inadequate healthcare services and shortages of trained professionals as major barriers preventing many Nigerians from seeking and obtaining treatment.
He also highlighted the psychological and financial burdens faced by survivors of terrorism, violence, displacement and abuse, as well as their families and caregivers.
Zion urged stakeholders to ensure that existing legislation translated into accessible services and enforceable protections rather than remaining largely a policy commitment.
He expressed his organisation’s readiness to work with the NHRC and other African mental health reform stakeholders on public awareness, institutional capacity building, referral systems, psychosocial support for survivors and policy advocacy.
Both Ojukwu and Zion called for a broader national response involving schools, workplaces, families, communities, religious institutions and traditional leaders.
Ojukwu urged religious and traditional leaders to complement professional mental healthcare services rather than replace clinical treatment with spiritual or traditional interventions when medical care was necessary.
He also called on the media to report mental health issues accurately and sensitively, warning that sensational reporting and stereotypes could deepen stigma and discourage people from seeking help.
The NHRC executive secretary reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to investigating human rights violations, protecting vulnerable persons and advocating policies that uphold the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
He stressed that mental health and psychosocial support should form an essential part of recovery efforts for survivors of conflict, terrorism, gender-based violence, displacement, torture and trafficking.
The commission maintained that Nigeria must move from policy commitments to practical action by improving access to treatment, strengthening insurance protection and ensuring that people living with mental health conditions are protected from discrimination and abuse.
