The House of Representatives has introduced a bill aimed at banning commercial surrogacy in Nigeria and regulating the practice strictly for altruistic purposes.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Women, Particularly in Relation to Surrogacy and for Related Matters,” was sponsored by Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, who represents the Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State. It was presented earlier this week and is expected to be debated further next week.
The bill seeks to create a legal framework that ensures surrogacy in Nigeria is ethical, safe, and non-commercial. It aims to protect the rights and welfare of all women involved, especially surrogate mothers, by mandating informed consent, access to medical care, and fair compensation for related expenses.
Key provisions of the bill include:
• A complete ban on commercial surrogacy.
• Endorsement of only altruistic surrogacy, where no financial profit is involved except for reimbursing medical and pregnancy-related expenses.
• A minimum age of 21 for surrogate mothers.
• Mandatory counselling for both surrogate mothers and intended parents.
• Explicit protection against coercion or forced surrogacy arrangements.
Under the proposed law, violators—including individuals, healthcare providers, and surrogacy agencies—could face a maximum of two years in prison, a fine of up to N2 million, or both.
According to Okonkwo, the legislation is designed to prevent the exploitation of women and the commodification of children, while also bringing clarity and regulation to a practice that has operated in legal uncertainty.
