On Thursday, the Nigerian senate began deliberations on a bill seeking to set up a National Centre of Autism, designed to strengthen diagnosis, research and care for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The bill was proposed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the proposed institution will be headquartered in Abuja, with regional centres sited in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Alongside enabling early diagnosis, the proposed centre will foster research to help combat long-standing misinformation and stigma that confront developmental disorders like autism.
The World Health Organisation estimates that one in 127 children worldwide—representing about 62 million people—has autism. The condition is prevalent among boys.
Limited research on autism
In Nigeria, where research on autism is sparse, experts believe that cases are severely underreported due to widespread misconceptions, lack of comprehensive national data and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
One survey involving 2,320 children in Nigeria identified 52 of them (45 males and 9 females) as autistic.
Across the country, cultural beliefs continue to define public perception of autism. Many Nigerians continue to associate the condition with spiritual causes, viewing autistic children as evil and bewitched.
These misconceptions push many families to consider traditional remedies like exorcism instead of medical support.
Underlying these attitudes are structural deficiencies in Nigeria’s healthcare system. The country suffers a critical deficit of healthcare specialists such as clinical psychologists, developmental paediatricians and therapists.
Essential services like speech and behavioural therapy are mostly limited to private facilities—and come at prohibitive costs.
In major cities like Lagos and Abuja, where healthcare resources are concentrated, parents may wait months to see a specialist.
Even though autism is acknowledged as a developmental disability in the medical community, knowledge of the condition can vary between doctors.
Thanks to limited awareness, some general practitioners may neglect early symptoms like delayed speech and repetitive behaviour.
In developed countries, children with autism are assessed by a multidisciplinary team that designs tailored intervention plans.
Nigeria’s shortage of medical professionals, however, means that many cases are frequently misdiagnosed as intellectual disability or other psychological disorders.
Proper diagnosis often comes late, during the later phase of childhood, when developmental setbacks are more pronounced, limiting the potential for early intervention.
Filling the gaps
Over the years, a growing number of non-profits and advocacy groups have risen to close the gaps—raising awareness and early detection through pockets of campaigns in Nigeria’s rural communities.
The proposed bill signals a shift in the national response to ASD. If passed, it will be Nigeria’s first comprehensive federal law recognising autism as a disability deserving of adequate diagnosis and care.
By creating a coordinated response, it could ensure that autistic individuals can access quality therapeutic services at subsidised costs.
However, an essential element of autism therapy is specialised training. Many federal universities offer no autism-focused programmes.
This means that intending professionals must travel abroad for training, where better opportunities keep many from returning. For those who do, the service costs are often out of the reach of the average parent.
As the government moves to institutionalise autism diagnosis and care, equal attention should be given to developing a skilled workforce that can drive its new cause.
Summary not available at this time.
