The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (SToP) guidelines — a framework designed to ensure that women have access to safe, legal, and medically supervised abortion services within the limits of Nigerian law.

The move, according to the government, forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality and promote reproductive health rights across the state.

Speaking at a seminar in Abeokuta organized by the Ogun State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Center for Bridging Health Gaps, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, emphasized that unsafe abortions remain a major public health concern.

“Unsafe abortion is among the top five direct causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria, with 97% of such cases occurring among women from low- and middle-income backgrounds,” Ogunsola said.

He noted that the SToP guideline seeks to address the barriers to safe abortion by promoting accurate information, quality healthcare access, and reduction of stigma surrounding reproductive services.

Dr. Ogunsola added that the Nigerian Constitution (1999) provides a legal foundation for access to safe abortion care, especially in cases where a pregnancy threatens the life or health of the mother, or results from rape or incest.

“Our goal is to work with healthcare professionals, civil society, and legal experts to ensure that women can access life-saving care safely and lawfully,” he stated.

In her remarks, Dr. Moriam Jagun, Executive Director of the Center for Bridging Health Gaps, described unsafe abortion as “one of the most preventable causes of maternal death.” She stressed the need to break the silence and stigma surrounding abortion to safeguard women’s health and dignity.

Mrs. Oluwakemi Lawal, Director of the Citizens’ Rights Department, and Dr. Olusoji Jagun of the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria (SOGON), both underscored the importance of raising awareness about the SToP guideline and ensuring that only qualified professionals perform legal terminations under safe and hygienic conditions.

They called for more collaboration between government, medical experts, faith leaders, and civil society to ensure that women are empowered to make informed reproductive health decisions without fear or stigma.