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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s growing mental health crisis, saying 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.
The Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, spoke on Monday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2026 World Mental Health Day. He described mental health as a fundamental human rights issue and urged the government to prioritise funding, access to care and full implementation of mental health laws.
Ojukwu said that despite recent legislative and policy reforms, many Nigerians with mental-health conditions still face stigma, discrimination, neglect and exclusion from education, employment and community life.
He said the challenge is particularly acute in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings, where violence, displacement and insecurity have deepened 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 urged the Federal Government to make mental health central to 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 in the National Mental Health Act and other policy instruments, but stressed that effective implementation remains critical to improving outcomes.
Ojukwu disclosed that, under his leadership, the Commission set up a counselling unit at its headquarters to provide psychosocial support for victims of human-rights violations and for staff handling traumatic cases.
He also cited the Commission’s intervention in abuse cases involving persons with psychosocial disabilities, including in Kano State, where children and adults held in solitary confinement were rescued and moved to welfare facilities.
In a separate case, the Commission recently rescued a child from a woman living in what it described as inhuman conditions in the Federal Capital Territory, a situation it linked to severe mental-health challenges.
The NHRC said it is working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to integrate human rights principles into the proposed National Mental Health Strategic Plan for 2027-2032.
Ojukwu warned that untreated mental-health conditions affect not only individuals but also families and communities, making professional care, family support and social inclusion essential to 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.
The Commission also challenged journalists and media organisations to report responsibly on mental health, noting that inaccurate and sensational coverage 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.
