*Ojukwu, SAN
By Clement Nwoji
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s growing mental health crisis, revealing that fewer than three per cent of Nigerians living with mental-health conditions are covered by health insurance, leaving millions without access to affordable treatment and support.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2026 World Mental Health Day in Abuja on Monday, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, described mental health as a fundamental human rights issue and urged government authorities to prioritise funding, access to care and full implementation of mental health laws.
Ojukwu said despite recent legislative and policy reforms, many Nigerians suffering from mental-health conditions continue to face stigma, discrimination, neglect and exclusion from education, employment and community life.
According to him, Nigeria faces a particularly serious challenge in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings where violence, displacement and insecurity have worsened psychological trauma among vulnerable populations.
“The scale of Nigeria’s mental-health challenges requires a strong and coordinated national response,” he said.
The NHRC boss called on the Federal Government to make mental health a central component of national health planning by expanding insurance coverage, increasing investment in community-based care and deploying more mental-health professionals nationwide.
He noted that Nigeria already has a legal framework through the National Mental Health Act and other policy instruments but stressed that effective implementation remains critical to improving outcomes for affected persons.
Ojukwu disclosed that under his leadership, the Commission established a counselling unit at its headquarters to provide psychosocial support for victims of human-rights violations as well as staff handling traumatic cases.
He also highlighted the Commission’s intervention in several abuse cases involving persons with psychosocial disabilities, including incidents in Kano State where children and adults subjected to solitary confinement were rescued and moved to welfare facilities.
In another intervention, the Commission recently rescued a child from a woman living in what it described as an inhuman condition in the Federal Capital Territory, a situation linked to severe mental-health challenges.
The NHRC further revealed that it is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to integrate human rights principles into Nigeria’s proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027-2032.
Ojukwu warned that untreated mental-health conditions often affect not only individuals but entire families and communities, making professional care, family support and social inclusion essential components of any national response.
He urged religious leaders, traditional institutions, schools, workplaces and community groups to help dismantle stigma and encourage people to seek professional help when needed.
The Commission also challenged journalists and media organisations to promote responsible reporting on mental health issues, stressing that inaccurate and sensational coverage often reinforces harmful stereotypes and discourages people from seeking treatment.
“As we commemorate World Mental Health Day 2026, the National Human Rights Commission calls for mental health to be treated as a human rights and development priority in Nigeria,” Ojukwu said.
He added that the country must move “from sympathy to rights, from awareness to action, and from policy promises to real results,” insisting that no Nigerian should be denied dignity, support or access to care because of a mental-health condition.
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