CurrentReport Blog A bill seeking the establishment of the Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Rep. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala (APC-Oyo), the bill aims to regulate and supervise surrogacy arrangements, providing a legal framework for the registration and monitoring of surrogacy in the country.
Surrogacy involves a woman carrying and delivering a child on behalf of a couple or an individual who is unable or unwilling to go through pregnancy. The bill, once passed into law, would protect the rights of all parties involved in the surrogacy process, including the surrogate mother, the intended parents, and the child.
Speaking after the plenary, Alao-Akala emphasized that the bill is designed to eliminate discrimination and exploitation in surrogacy arrangements. He also highlighted the bill’s goal to support and encourage struggling couples who wish to have children.
“This kind of law is not a law of force, it is a law of choice,” Alao-Akala said. “It’s not a law that says everybody must have children through surrogacy, it is not a binding law.” He acknowledged that cultural and religious factors may affect the immediate acceptance of the law, but stressed that the bill would provide guidelines for those choosing surrogacy as an option.
