Akwa Ibom Assembly Passes Bill to Reform Mental Healthcare

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a new bill aimed at overhauling mental healthcare services and improving the treatment of people with mental health conditions across the state.

The legislation, which seeks to establish a dedicated Mental Health Services Department, was approved after its third reading during plenary on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Government House in Uyo.

Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Moses Essien, presented the report that led to the bill’s passage. Lawmakers said the new framework replaces the outdated Lunacy Law of 1916, marking a major shift from colonial-era policies to a modern, rights-based approach to mental healthcare.

The new law is designed to protect the rights of individuals with intellectual, psychosocial, and cognitive conditions, while expanding access to quality care, rehabilitation, and community-based treatment options.

It also introduces stricter guidelines on patient consent and empowers the Commissioner for Health to develop regulations for the effective management of mental health services in the state.

Stakeholders, including medical professionals, contributed to the bill during a public hearing held on March 23, 2026, helping shape the final document.

Lawmakers noted that the reform will benefit residents in need of psychological support and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Following its passage, Speaker Udeme Otong directed the Clerk of the House, Nsiakak Orok, to forward the bill to the state governor for assent, after a motion moved by Jerry Otu and seconded by Prince Aniefiok Attah.