The House of Representatives has commenced moves to ban commercial surrogacy, proposing a jail term for offenders and a fine of N2 million.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Uchenna Okonkwo, representing Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework to ensure that surrogacy practices in the country are ethical and safe.
The proposed bill emphasizes the protection of surrogate mothers’ rights and welfare, mandating informed consent and access to adequate medical care.
It allows compensation strictly for necessary medical expenses related to pregnancy, while stipulating that all forms of commercial surrogacy, which involves financial profit, are completely prohibited.
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Additionally, it sets a minimum age of 21 for surrogate mothers to ensure emotional maturity and requires mandatory counseling sessions for both surrogate mothers and intended parents.
To enforce these regulations, the bill outlines severe penalties for violators, including potential prison sentences of up to two years and fines of up to N2 million.
Re p. Okonkwo highlighted the importance of the legislation in preventing the exploitation of women and the commodification of children, aiming to bring clarity and regulation to a practice that has often been marred by legal uncertainties.
