By Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA) has officially clarified misconceptions regarding its role in providing SGBV support in Nigeria. In a statement issued on March 9, 2025, Permanent Secretary Dr. Maryam Keshinro addressed recent social media allegations claiming that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) had been abandoned. Describing these claims as misleading and detrimental to ongoing efforts, Dr. Keshinro reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting and empowering survivors of gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Dr. Keshinro emphasized that state governments are constitutionally responsible for managing SGBV shelters and survivor support systems through their respective State Ministries of Women Affairs. The FMWA operates only one temporary shelter in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), designed to provide immediate support for high-risk survivors before they are reintegrated into state or community-based support systems.
The Ministry’s comprehensive approach to SGBV support in Nigeria has been evident in states including Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, and the FCT. Following a nationwide needs assessment conducted in 2024, the FMWA implemented targeted interventions to bridge service gaps. Notably, on December 14, 2024, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, visited the FCT temporary shelter with a multidisciplinary team. During this visit:
- Six survivors and their families received:
- Psychosocial counseling
- Stipends
- Food supplies
- Hygiene kits
- Two survivors with critical health needs received urgent medical care.
- Additionally, other survivors were provided with customized support packages that included economic grants and housing assistance to ensure long-term stability.
By January 2025, all survivors had successfully transitioned out of the temporary shelter under comprehensive reintegration plans, underscoring the Ministry’s dedication to providing thorough and immediate gender-based violence Nigeria support.
On March 5, 2025, a follow-up review was conducted for a particularly vulnerable survivor. In response, the Ministry secured additional temporary accommodation, increased financial support, designed a tailored rehabilitation plan, and assigned a dedicated caseworker to oversee progress.
To further address SGBV challenges, the FMWA has initiated several systemic reforms and policy measures:
- Finalizing a National Action Plan on SGBV, scheduled for adoption in Q2 2025.
- Collaborating with experts on SGBV, NAPTIP, and civil society organizations to standardize shelter operations and survivor care protocols.
- Expanding federal shelter capacity and enhancing training programs for state-level staff.
- Seeking emergency and operational funding to address urgent issues.
- Conducting legislative reviews of laws on violence and abuse, including the Vapp Act and other relevant legal instruments.
Dr. Keshinro reiterated that the allegations circulating via video are entirely false, noting that they distort the facts and undermine progress in combating gender-based violence in Nigeria. She emphasized that every case reported to the Ministry is handled with urgency and rigorously verified.
The FMWA’s unwavering commitment to survivors is demonstrated through its immediate interventions, long-term support systems, and ongoing systemic reforms aimed at reinforcing SGBV support in Nigeria.
