Joel Ajayi

The FAME Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment has called on the Federal Government to declare a renewed State of Emergency on rape and sexual violence, backed by clear targets, adequate funding, measurable timelines and consequences for institutional failure.

The foundation said Nigeria could no longer afford to treat sexual violence as an isolated social problem, describing the situation as a national crisis that continues to expose women and girls to violence while leaving many survivors without timely access to justice, medical care, psychosocial support and protection.

According to data from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, 2,755 cases of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence were documented across the country between January and April 2026, representing an average of about 23 reported cases daily.

Women and girls accounted for more than 81 per cent of documented survivors, while sexual violence constituted 82 per cent of the reported cases. Adolescent girls aged between 10 and 14 were identified as particularly affected.

The foundation expressed concern that only four per cent of the formally reported cases resulted in successful prosecution.

Data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) also highlights the scale of the challenge. Between January and July 2026, NAPTIP recorded 756 sexual and gender-based violence cases. Of these, 549 were investigated, 64 arrests were made, while only two cases were successfully concluded in court.

FAME Foundation noted that official figures likely represent only a fraction of the violence occurring across the country because many incidents go unreported.

The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey found that 21 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 had experienced physical or sexual violence. Yet only 24 per cent of women who experienced such violence sought help to stop it, while 58 per cent neither sought help nor told anyone.

The foundation therefore questioned what had changed six years after Nigeria’s emergency declaration on rape and sexual and gender-based violence.

In June 2020, all 36 state governors declared a State of Emergency on rape and sexual and gender-based violence following widespread public outrage over cases of rape and killings of women and girls.

The declaration came with commitments to strengthen legislation, establish sex offender registers and improve the national response to sexual violence. The Federal Government also supported the establishment of an inter-ministerial Presidential Task Force on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

However, FAME Foundation said Nigeria continues to grapple with underreporting, weak investigations, delays in prosecution, inadequate survivor support and limited accountability for perpetrators.

While acknowledging progress in the legal framework, the foundation stressed that the adoption of laws must be matched by effective implementation.

Federal reports indicate that 32 of the country’s 36 states had adopted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, with efforts continuing in the remaining states.

FAME Foundation said the priority should now be ensuring that the law translates into accessible protection, effective investigations, timely trials and justice for survivors.

The foundation also raised concerns about the availability of survivor support services.

As of November 2025, the Federal Government reported that Nigeria had 50 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 24 states, which had supported more than 58,000 survivors.

While describing the figure as evidence of progress, FAME Foundation said the number of centres remained inadequate for a country of Nigeria’s size and population.

The organisation consequently argued that any renewed State of Emergency must go beyond symbolism and produce measurable action.

It called for a time-bound national action plan on rape and sexual violence, with specific targets covering prevention, investigation, prosecution and survivor support, as well as regular public reporting on progress.

The foundation also demanded full implementation of the VAPP Act across all states, with clear timelines and accountability for states that have yet to adopt or effectively implement the law.

It called for fast-track mechanisms for sexual violence cases to reduce delays in prosecution and ensure survivors have timely access to justice.

FAME Foundation further urged the government to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres in every state, offering survivors medical care, forensic services, psychosocial support and legal assistance.

It also advocated a functional and accessible national sex offender register that is regularly updated and linked to effective safeguarding and background-check systems.

The foundation called for an independent review of the manner in which the police, NAPTIP, prosecutors and courts handle sexual violence cases, with reforms targeted at delays, abandoned cases and weak accountability.

It equally stressed the need for adequate funding for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, including survivor services, shelters, medical care, legal support and training for frontline professionals.

FAME Foundation recognised the efforts of government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and survivor advocates working to combat sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

However, it maintained that the scale of the crisis requires a response that is urgent, coordinated and measurable.

The foundation said Nigeria cannot continue to declare emergencies without building the systems required to address them.

It stressed that women and girls deserve more than promises, while survivors deserve justice and children deserve protection.

It also warned that perpetrators must know that rape and sexual violence will be investigated, prosecuted and punished.

FAME Foundation said it remains ready to work with the Federal Government, state governments, justice-sector institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to turn any renewed State of Emergency into measurable action and lasting protection for women and girls across Nigeria.