The Senate on Thursday moved to strengthen support for Nigerians living with Autism Spectrum Disorder as it began consideration of a bill seeking to establish a National Centre for Autism with six zonal offices across the country for research, diagnosis, and care. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), seeks to institutionalise early detection and intervention for children and adults with autism, while promoting public awareness, professional training, and inclusion. Leading debate on the general principles of the bill titled “An Act to Establish the National Center for Autism and Six Zonal Centers for Autism Diagnosis, Research, Education, and Care; and for Related Matters,” Akpoti-Uduaghan described the initiative as long overdue and essential to Nigeria’s social and public health development.
She identified the proposed zonal centres as Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abuja. Citing data from the World Health Organisation, the lawmaker noted that one in every 100 children globally is diagnosed with autism, adding that Nigeria’s prevalence is likely underreported due to poor awareness and limited diagnostic capacity. Akpoti-Uduaghan lamented that the absence of a national framework has forced families “to navigate this challenge alone,” often relying on poorly equipped private facilities or seeking help abroad — options accessible only to the privileged few. “This bill seeks to correct that anomaly by establishing a National Centre for Autism with six zonal centres to ensure access, awareness, and inclusion,” she said. The bill proposes that the national centre, headquartered in Abuja, will coordinate research, policy formulation, and training, while the zonal centres will provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational services, and act as referral hubs for state-level facilities.
The centres will also spearhead community-based awareness campaigns and capacity-building for teachers and healthcare professionals. “Many children with autism are mislabeled as stubborn, mentally ill, or possessed — leading to rejection, abuse, and lifelong exclusion,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “Teachers are ill-equipped to manage these learners, hospitals lack diagnostic tools, and parents face enormous emotional and financial strain.” She added that the Bill aims to “bridge these gaps by providing a federal response to a developmental and public health challenge” and to ensure equitable access to care across all regions. Describing the proposal as “an act of social justice, empathy, and national foresight,” the senator said, “It represents our collective recognition that every Nigerian life matters, regardless of neurological or developmental differences. It is a call to give children with autism a chance to thrive, learn, and contribute to our great nation.”
The bill received broad support from lawmakers across party lines, with several senators commending its focus on inclusion and institutional reform. Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative work and stakeholder engagement.If passed, it will mark Nigeria’s first comprehensive federal law dedicated to autism diagnosis, care, and inclusion.
