The Federal Government has revealed that no fewer than 10,326 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases were recorded across Nigeria between January and September 2025, signalling an urgent national concern despite ongoing advocacy efforts.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imam Suleiman-Ibrahim, at the National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) held in Abuja.
The event, convened by ActionAid Nigeria alongside development partners, formed part of activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, themed: “Unite! End All Forms of Digital Violence against Women and Girls.”
Represented by Dr. Adanna Steinacker, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, the minister confirmed that 2,444 survivors received medical, psychosocial, legal, and rehabilitation support, while 511 individuals benefited from livelihood and empowerment programmes.
According to the minister, although the 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey reported a decline in sexual, physical, and intimate partner violence, the reality remains deeply troubling, with one in three Nigerian women experiencing GBV within the period.
She noted that technology-facilitated violence, including sexual extortion, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, online blackmail, cyber harassment, identity manipulation, and digital stalking—remains widely unreported due to complex digital tactics employed by perpetrators. These acts, she said, have triggered severe psychological trauma and, in some cases, fatalities.
To strengthen national response, the Federal Government has concluded plans to relaunch the National Electronic Dashboard on Gender-Based Violence, a centralised digital system expected to enhance data tracking, pattern identification, survivor case management, and inter-agency coordination.
Suleiman-Ibrahim added that the Ministry will prioritise the creation of an Emergency GBV Response Fund, a ring-fenced pool designed to support shelters, hotlines, rapid response units, and survivor rehabilitation initiatives.
Representing the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Mrs. Cynthia Rowe called for a National Online Gender-Safety Policy, urging Nigeria to establish coordinated content-moderation standards, ensure that harmful content is removed within 48 hours, and deploy culturally aware moderation teams.
She further recommended digital abuse courts, digital protection orders, and unified reporting portals integrating police, legal aid, and psychosocial services.
ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, explained that the dialogue seeks to deepen national understanding of TF-GBV, identify institutional and legislative gaps, and co-create a National Roadmap for prevention and response.
Through keynote remarks, thematic presentations, and expert panel discussions, he said participants would develop actionable strategies and solidify partnerships that enhance accountability, reporting, and digital safety for women and girls.
He emphasised that the initiative aims to secure lasting commitments from government and stakeholders to improve protection systems, expand survivor-support frameworks, and strengthen nationwide response mechanisms.
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