The Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality through legal provisions for safe pregnancy termination.

The bill, titled H.B. No. 036/OG/2026 – Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Bill, 2026, was debated during plenary at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, assured that the bill would undergo thorough legislative scrutiny to ensure its provisions conform to the constitution and other extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr Elemide said the legislation was intended to reduce preventable maternal deaths while promoting safe motherhood and reproductive health rights.

He said the House of Assembly Committee on Health and other stakeholders would carefully examine the bill to eliminate possible legal conflicts and ensure it achieved the intended policy objectives.

Earlier, while opening debate on the bill, the sponsor and chairman of the House Committee on Health, Wahab Haruna (APC- Yewa North II), described the bill as a critical response to persistent maternal mortality and morbidity in the state.

Mr Haruna said the proposed law sought to define the legal and medical conditions under which qualified medical practitioners could safely terminate pregnancies in approved health facilities.

He explained that the bill would permit such procedures where the life of a pregnant woman was at risk, in line with legal provisions.

Aligning with the sponsor’s position, Babatunde Tella (APC-Abeokuta North) noted that the bill was aimed at promoting safe medical interventions in high-risk pregnancies where termination is medically recommended.

Contributing to the debate, Lukman Adeleye (APC-Odogbolu) stressed the need to adopt globally accepted best practices in reproductive healthcare.

He said the proposed legislation would provide legal and institutional frameworks for a safe pregnancy termination in legally recognised circumstances.

He added that it would protect victims of rape from trauma and contribute to reducing maternal mortality.

On his part, Oluseun Adesanya (APC- Ijebu North East) and Yusuf Sheriff (Ado-Odo/Ota 1), alongside other lawmakers, supported the bill, saying it would improve access to information and essential medical interventions for women.

The bill was subsequently committed to the House Committee on Health for further legislative action.

(NAN)