The House of Representatives has approved a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission, which will be responsible for monitoring and supervising surrogacy arrangements across the country.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Registration, Regulation and Monitoring of Surrogacy Agencies in Nigeria and for Related Matters,” aims to address the growing need for oversight in surrogacy practices.
While leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, its sponsor, Hon. Ayodeji Alao-Akala, highlighted the importance of regulating surrogacy to ensure that medical and health laws are strictly adhered to. He emphasized that the bill would offer protection to individuals seeking to overcome infertility through surrogacy while also safeguarding the interests of surrogate mothers and the children born through the process.
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According to Alao-Akala, the lack of regulation has created a “black market” within the surrogacy system, exploiting the needs of expectant parents. He called for urgent legal protection to curb these unethical practices and to ensure that all parties involved are treated fairly and lawfully.
“Surrogacy must be regulated to ensure that it does not become an avenue for exploitation,” he said, adding that the bill is designed to create a framework that will safeguard the rights of all stakeholders involved.
Following the adoption of the bill, Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, referred it to the House Committee on Healthcare Services for further legislative consideration and action.
The proposed Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission will also be tasked with registering and regulating surrogacy agencies to ensure that they operate within legal and ethical boundaries.
