Saving the life of a pregnant woman is the only condition under which abortion is allowed in Nigeria. According to the abortion laws of the Criminal Code, a woman risks a seven-year prison sentence if she carries out the procedure, anyone who conducts the abortive procedure risks a heavy prison sentence of up to fourteen years and furthermore anyone who provides the necessary materials for the procedure risks a prison sentence of up to three years. As a result, abortions are conducted in unsafe conditions that pose a risk of maternal mortality. In this persuasive essay we argue that women should not be punished with felony charges for terminating unwanted pregnancies since the child would become her sole responsibility and an important part of her life. There are numerous reasons why women should be given access to the safe removal of an unwanted pregnancy in Nigeria. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The State of Abortion Laws in Nigeria Nigeria has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. Nigerian law does not take into account women (including minors) victims of rape. A national survey conducted in 2014 on violence against children in Nigeria showed that one in four women had experienced sexual violence. Some cases of this aggression would lead to unwanted pregnancies. These girls/women are expected to carry their pregnancies to term with the famous words commonly spoken by Nigerians: “children are a gift from God”. It is easier to give words of encouragement and reasons to a rape victim to pursue a pregnancy than to actually be the victim who has to carry the child. Legalizing abortion would reduce rape victims taking drastic measures such as removing the fetus or, worse, committing suicide. Every woman has full rights to her own body, but Nigerian abortion law indirectly limits this ban by prohibiting women from removing the fetus they do not want. in their bodies. Criminalizing the act a woman chooses to do with her body limits the right she should have. When women are denied abortion, unwanted children are brought into the world. These women are then forced to become mothers against their will, resulting in them feeling resentful towards their children, feeling trapped as mothers and regret ever having become pregnant. A child should not be brought into the world when circumstances are not conducive to his or her parents' care and support. Newborns have been seen abandoned in bushes, streets, bins and on the doorways of general hospitals by Nigerian women when they were forced to carry their unwanted pregnancies to term and give birth. According to Dr. Ejike Orji, president of the Association for Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), unsafe abortion is the second leading cause of maternal death in Nigeria. Women who become pregnant and do not want to keep their babies are willing to face any circumstances to ensure that the pregnancy is terminated. They seek help from quack doctors who have no regard for their health and do not provide any form of supervision. As stated by Ms Shekarau, director of International Pregnancy Advisory Services in Nigeria, Nigeria's abortion laws do not stop abortion, rather they create an environment where quack doctors can take advantage of these women. Abortion is the biggest source of income for quack doctors in Nigeria. Quack doctors know that under Nigerian law, they are the only options for desperate girls and women.