* Says less than 3% covered by insurance Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over the treatment of Nigerians living with mental health conditions, warning that inadequate health insurance, widespread stigma and persistent human rights abuses are denying vulnerable citizens access to care and exposing some to degrading and inhuman treatment. The commission disclosed that no fewer than three per cent of people with mental health conditions in Nigeria were covered by health insurance, leaving many individuals and their families struggling to pay for treatment in a country where mental healthcare services and trained professionals remain inadequate. It also revealed cases involving children and adults with psychosocial disabilities who were subjected to solitary confinement in Kano State, as well as a child rescued in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from a woman living in what the commission described as an extremely distressing and inhuman condition linked to her mental state. The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, raised these concerns in Abuja on Monday while commemorating the 2026 World Mental Health Day, calling on the Federal Government to urgently increase funding for mental healthcare, expand access to treatment and strengthen enforcement of laws protecting the rights of affected persons. Ojukwu warned that Nigeria could not claim to uphold human dignity while people experiencing mental health conditions were abandoned, discriminated against, denied appropriate treatment or subjected to abuse because of their conditions. He said mental health must be recognised not merely as a medical concern but as a fundamental human rights issue requiring urgent and coordinated action by government institutions, healthcare providers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. “A mental-health condition does not reduce a person’s worth, dignity or human rights,” he said. The NHRC chief stressed that people living with mental health conditions were entitled to equality, respect, appropriate medical care and the opportunity to participate fully in society, adding that their conditions must never become grounds for exclusion, neglect or the denial of personal autonomy. The commission’s warning comes amid continuing concerns about the accessibility and affordability of mental healthcare in Nigeria, where poverty, insecurity, displacement and shortages of specialised services place additional pressure on individuals and families seeking treatment. Citing World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, Ojukwu said nearly one in seven people globally live with a mental disorder, while many requiring care remain unable to access effective treatment. He noted that the situation was particularly concerning in communities affected by terrorism, abductions, armed violence and displacement, where survivors often experienced psychological trauma capable of affecting their daily activities, relationships and ability to contribute meaningfully to society. According to him, survivors of gender-based violence, torture, trafficking and other serious human rights violations also require mental health and psychosocial support as part of efforts to restore their dignity and help them recover. He said the government must therefore move beyond general awareness campaigns and make concrete investments in accessible services, trained personnel, health insurance and community-based care. Of particular concern to the commission is the gap between Nigeria’s legal commitments and the actual experiences of people living with mental health conditions. Nigeria enacted the National Mental Health Act in 2021, which received presidential assent in December 2022, establishing a legal framework for mental healthcare and the protection of the rights of affected persons. The country also has a National Mental Health Policy and a National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework. However, Ojukwu maintained that the existence of laws and policy documents would have limited impact unless they translated into affordable treatment, accessible services and effective mechanisms for holding perpetrators of abuse accountable. He called for the full implementation of the National Mental Health Act and Policy, warning that people experiencing mental health conditions continued to face discrimination in education, employment, housing and community life. Some, he said, were denied the opportunity to make decisions about their own lives or subjected to treatment that undermined their dignity and fundamental rights. The NHRC executive secretary urged the Federal Government to expand affordable mental health services through primary healthcare centres, strengthen health insurance coverage and recruit, train and deploy more psychiatrists, psychologists,
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