The Federal Capital Territory Sexual and Gender-Based Violence SGBV Working Group (FCTSGBVWG) has expressed grave concern over the alarming rise in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence within the Territory, calling for urgent and decisive action from policymakers.
The coalition described the situation as a critical crisis, highlighting that the FCT ranks among the regions with the highest prevalence of SGBV in Nigeria.
The group lamented that records reveal over 3,000 reported cases within the first 100 days of the current administration.
The coalition, comprising over 20 organizations, including the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA), Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), and Nigerian Girl Guides Association FCT Chapter, called for leadership and accountability.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at a press conference, themed ‘Investing in a Safer Future: End Violence Against Women and Girls in the FCT’, Aanu’ Rotimi, Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and Inclusive Development (CAAID) and Chair of the FCT Accountability Mechanism Network, noted that SGBV affects every community, council, and family in the FCT, calling it both a moral and economic crisis with an estimated cost of 3.7% of the GDP annually.
“This is not just a women’s issue; it affects national development”, she said while lamenting that many cases, particularly in rural communities, remain undocumented due to stigma, family pressure, and inadequate resources.
To enable the relevant official organs of the FCT administration to address the issue frontally, Rotimi urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to double down on the efforts he is making already and prioritize increased budgetary allocations and empower the Women’s Secretariat to combat the issue.
Furthermore, Area Council Chairpersons and key government agencies were also urged to take decisive steps by enhancing coordination among stakeholders.
“We need a gender-responsive 2025 budget to fund prevention programs, survivor support, and accountability measures,” she said.
The coalition also stressed the urgent need to enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act of 2015, which criminalizes various forms of violence.
Despite its potential, gaps in funding, lenient penalties, and limited access to justice have hindered its effectiveness.
Rotimi called for allocating 0.5% of national tax revenue to implement the law and for public hearings on a proposed VAPP Repeal Bill to strengthen its provisions.
The coalition further recommended creating a multi-sectoral task force for improved coordination among government agencies, civil society, and local stakeholders.
However, she warned that inaction would perpetuate a culture of impunity, deepen survivors’ trauma, and undermine economic growth while urging policymakers to act decisively to create a society where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.
“We are calling for leadership, accountability, and commitment. Together, we can reduce the prevalence of SGBV, foster economic growth, and build a more equitable society.
“The consequences of inaction, she stressed, are too dire to ignore,” Rotimi, urging the media to amplify survivors’ voices and hold leaders accountable.
On her part, Ruth Agbo, President of the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) and Chair of the FCT Coalition for Sustainable Development (FCTCSD), emphasized the challenges at the grassroots level.
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“When it happens to the poorest of the poor, survivors are silenced by fear of stigma and family pressure. We’re urging them to speak out and hold offenders accountable,” Agbo said.
She stressed the importance of robust VAPP law implementation, noting that prevention is far less costly than addressing the aftermath of violence.
Ambassador Ojineme Enakeme, Secretary of the FCT Civil Society Desk, highlighted systemic shortcomings within the FCT.
“Unlike the States, the FCT lacks legislative structures and dedicated resources. Safe houses and interventions are often managed nationally, leaving local cases underfunded. We demand that the FCT be treated as a State with its own dedicated budget for SGBV response,” Enakeme said.