Africa – Who Pays the Price When Abortion Is Unsafe? NFM X Space Examines the Cost of Access

Cynthia Velle
October 2, 2026

On September 28, 2026, Naija Feminists Media (NFM) marked International Safe Abortion Day with an X Space titled “Who Pays the Price When Abortion Is Unsafe?” bringing together speakers from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya to examine the realities of abortion access, the consequences of unsafe abortion and the wider impact of reproductive healthcare restrictions on women and girls.

The one-hour conversation brought together over 30 listeners, and the conversation featured Oluwatoyin Magbagbeola, founder and CEO of Femrivied; Sherifa Awudu, a sexual and reproductive health and rights expert and researcher; Wakesho Langali, a Kenyan SRHR advocate, feminist activist and communications practitioner with Positive Young Women Voices; and Diana Mushiyi, a Kenyan human rights advocate, activist and emerging researcher. Omotuemen Favour, founder of the Save the Girl Child Initiative, was also invited but could not join the conversation.

Continued: https://naijafeministsmedia.org.ng/who-pays-the-price-when-abortion-is-unsafe-nfm-x-space-examines-the-cost-of-access/

Nigeria – Reform abortion laws to save women’s lives, group urges FG

September 28, 2026
By Chima Azubuike

The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre has called for urgent reform of Nigeria’s abortion laws, saying criminalisation contributes to unsafe abortion and preventable maternal deaths.

WARDC made the call on Monday in a statement released to commemorate the 2026 International Safe Abortion Day, with the theme, “Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care.”

The organisation said Nigeria could not effectively reduce maternal mortality while unsafe abortion remained a preventable cause of death and serious injury among women and girls.

Continued: https://punchng.com/reform-abortion-laws-to-save-womens-lives-group-urges-fg/

28.09.2026

News

Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

abortion law reform

International Safe Abortion Day

maternal mortality

Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre

NIGERIA – Stakeholders seek legal protection for survivors of rape and incest

By : Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze
28 September 2026

Stakeholders have called for greater legal protection for survivors of rape and incest, arguing that women who become pregnant as a result of sexual violence should have access to safe abortion where continuing the pregnancy would cause severe psychological or other harm.

They emphasized the need for the law to recognise the realities of rape, incest, severe foetal abnormalities, and the mental health of the woman.

Continued: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/stakeholders-seek-legal-protection-for-survivors-of-rape-and-incest/

Nigeria – When Pregnancy Becomes A Burden: WARDC Demands Action On Unsafe Abortion

Appolonia Adeyemi
September 10, 2026

For some young women and girls, an unintended pregnancy can quickly become a crisis—not because pregnancy itself is life-threatening, but because the fear of stigma, poverty, interrupted education, family rejection and lack of support can make them desperate for a way out. That desperation, reproductive health advocates say, is contributing to preventable deaths from unsafe termination of pregnancy.

At a memorial and advocacy meeting on the prevention of maternal deaths from unsafe maternal health practices in Lagos, the founding Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has urged governments to establish practical support systems that would make childbearing less burdensome and enable women and girls to make informed decisions without being pushed into unsafe practices.

Continued; https://newtelegraphng.com/when-pregnancy-becomes-a-burden-wardc-demands-action-on-unsafe-abortion/

10.09.2026

Adaora Ekekwe

Appolonia Adeyemi

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

Dr Olabisi Olanrewaju

Hakeem Olalekan Dauda

Mobolaji Ogunlende

Olaniyan Suliat Anike

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre

Nigeria – She died in my arms: A mother’s grief after unsafe abortion

By Ganiyu Mubarak
September 6, 2026

In Okiri, Badia East, Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Mrs Abiola has shared the painful story of losing her daughter to complications from an unsafe abortion.

Though the incident occurred several years ago, Abiola says the grief remains fresh. What continues to puzzle her is that her daughter was already a mother of two children, and she never explained why she chose to terminate the pregnancy.

Recounting the tragic day, Abiola said: “When she finally told us she had an abortion, we tried to rush her to a hospital. She was already very weak. I held her in the vehicle and prayed desperately for God to save her. Suddenly, we got caught in a traffic jam. We were still stuck in traffic, with the hospital building already in sight, when she died in my arms.”

Continued: https://theeagleonline.com.ng/series-6-she-died-in-my-arms-a-mothers-grief-after-unsafe-abortion/

06.09.2026

Commentary

Dr Olanrewaju Kayode Obafemi

Mrs Abiola

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre

Nigeria – IPAS seeks media support to promote safe abortion, maternal health

By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi
Sep 3, 2026

BIRNIN KEBBI — IPAS Nigeria, a health organisation working on abortion care, maternal and reproductive health, has called on media professionals to help combat stigma against women and girls who seek abortion services for various reasons.

The organisation made the call during a two-day workshop organised for selected journalists and health professionals in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on reporting safe and unsafe abortion, maternal health and other reproductive health issues.

Continued: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/09/ipas-seeks-media-support-to-promote-safe-abortion-maternal-health/

03.09.2026

Nigeria – Lagos Govt. calls for grassroots action to curb maternal deaths

By : Ijeoma Thomas-Odia
2 Sep 2026

The Lagos State Government has advocated stronger grassroots sensitisation, counselling and improved access to quality healthcare to tackle the rising rate of maternal deaths.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, during a memorial and advocacy meeting convened in the state capital in honour and remembrance of women and girls whose lives have been lost as a result of unsafe termination of pregnancy.

Continued: https://guardian.ng/guardian-woman/lagos-government-calls-for-grassroots-action-to-curb-maternal-deaths/

02.09.2026

News

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

Nigeria – Aunt recalls how niece died after ingesting drugs to abort foetus

By Juliana Francis
August 23, 2026

Tears filled Modinat’s eyes as she recalled the painful loss of her niece, 28‑year‑old Bukola, who died last August from complications of an unsafe abortion. Bukola, who lived with Modinat, had initially complained of stomach pain. Relatives believed it was a minor illness. But as her condition worsened, the truth emerged.

“One day, she suddenly became sick,” Modinat recounted. “She kept complaining of stomach pain but refused to tell anyone it was from the drugs she had taken to abort the pregnancy.

Despite the family’s efforts, Bukola grew weaker. By the time she was rushed to the general hospital, she was unable to speak and scribbled her confession on a piece of paper. She died shortly after, leaving behind a child now in Modinat’s care.

Continued; https://theeagleonline.com.ng/aunt-recalls-how-niece-died-after-ingesting-drugs-to-abort-foetus/

23.08.2026

Why Maternal Deaths Remain Alarmingly High In Nigeria

by Iniobong Ekponta
20 Aug 2026

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, has expressed concern over high rate of maternal deaths in Nigeria, and identified haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, sepsis, obstructed labour and complications of unsafe abortion among the leading direct causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

Bassey recalled that an estimated 74,559 Nigerian women who died from pregnancy-related causes in 2023, noting that the alarm figure represented about 204 deaths daily, while the maternal mortality ratio remains close to 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births, adding that an estimated maternal mortality ratio of 774 per 100,000 live births are recorded in Akwa Ibom State.

Continued; https://leadership.ng/why-maternal-deaths-remain-alarmingly-high-in-nigeria-uuth-cmd/

20.08.2026

Uyo Teaching Hospital

Nigeria – IRISE takes SRHR, STOP Guidelines campaigns to Ijagemo, seeks community trust for women’s health in Igando-Ikotun

August 17, 2026
From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos

The Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation (IRISE) has extended its advocacy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) Guidelines to the Ijagemo Community in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, in a bid to build trust and secure grassroots support for women’s health interventions.

The event which was held recently, at G.O.C Events Place, Ijagemo, was themed: “Building Trust and Securing Community Buy-In for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocacy in Igando-Ikotun LCDA.”

Continued: https://authorityngr.com/2026/08/17/irise-takes-srhr-stop-guidelines-campaigns-to-ijagemo-seeks-community-trust-for-womens-health-in-igando-ikotun/

17.08.2026