…Says 52 Sexual assault Centre Inadequate for 200m Population
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s limited capacity to respond to sexual violence, disclosing that the country has only 52 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) serving a population of more than 200 million people.
The minister warned that the number of centres was inadequate to meet the needs of survivors nationwide, calling for increased investment in specialised facilities, safe shelters and coordinated support services.
She made the remarks while highlighting the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and strengthening access to medical care, counselling, rehabilitation and justice.
According to the minister, many survivors continue to face barriers in accessing essential services, including safe accommodation, psychosocial support, legal assistance and economic empowerment.
She stressed that the response to sexual and gender-based violence must extend beyond rescuing survivors from abusive situations to providing the sustained support required for recovery and reintegration.
“Our responsibility does not end with rescuing survivors from abusive situations. We must also provide the psychosocial, medical, legal, rehabilitative, and economic support required to help them recover, regain confidence, and move from survival to self-reliance,” she said.
The minister also identified stigma, fear of retaliation, economic dependence and limited access to justice as factors that discourage survivors from reporting abuse.
She urged federal and state governments, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and communities to strengthen collaboration in preventing violence and ensuring survivors receive timely, confidential and compassionate care.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that legal frameworks, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and the Child Rights Act, 2003, must translate into accessible protection and justice for women and children.
She called for the establishment of more Sexual Assault Referral Centres and safe shelters across the country, stressing that survivors should not be left to navigate complex support systems on their own.
The minister also emphasised the importance of safeguarding survivors’ privacy and dignity while preventing stigma, discrimination and victim-blaming.
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides coordinated services for survivors of sexual violence, which may include medical treatment, counselling, psychosocial support and referrals to relevant legal and protection services.
The HerStoryOurStoryNG initiative’s directory lists 52 such centres across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory, highlighting the uneven availability of specialised support nationwide.
The minister maintained that expanding these services and strengthening partnerships among government institutions and other stakeholders were essential to ensuring survivors could access the care, protection and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
