The Federal Government, through its Ministry of Women Affairs, has refuted claims circulating in a recent video alleging that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) under the Ministry’s care have been abandoned.
In a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, described the accusations as “not only misleading but also undermining the structured, ongoing efforts to protect and empower survivors.”
According to the statement, it is crucial to clarify the Ministry’s role in SGBV interventions. By constitutional mandate, state governments are responsible for managing SGBV shelters and survivor support systems through their respective State Ministries of Women Affairs. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs operates only one temporary shelter in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), designated for urgent, high-risk cases requiring immediate federal intervention. This facility is not a long-term care home but a transitional space where survivors receive immediate support before being reintegrated into appropriate state or community-based systems.
Beyond emergency shelter, the Ministry has taken a proactive approach to survivor support. In 2024, the FMWA conducted a nationwide needs assessment across Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, and the FCT to identify gaps in survivor services. This assessment directly informed the Ministry’s targeted interventions, ensuring resources were allocated where they were needed most and strengthening collaboration with state authorities to improve survivor support frameworks.
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The statement added that the Ministry has taken steps to support survivors and strengthen Nigeria’s SGBV response system. On December 14, 2024, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs personally visited the FCT shelter, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team. During this visit, six survivors and their families received psychosocial counseling, stipends, food supplies, and hygiene kits. Two survivors with critical health needs were provided with urgent medical care, while others received customized support packages, including economic grants and housing assistance, to ensure long-term stability. By January 2025, all survivors had successfully transitioned out of the shelter under full reintegration plans.
On March 5, 2025, the Ministry conducted a follow-up review for a particularly vulnerable survivor. In response, it secured additional temporary accommodation, increased financial support, designed a tailored rehabilitation plan, and assigned a dedicated caseworker to oversee progress.
Further actions have been taken to address SGBV issues, including finalizing a National Action Plan on SGBV, set for adoption in Q2 2025. The Ministry has also partnered with experts on SGBV, NAPTIP, and civil society organizations to standardize shelter operations and survivor care protocols, while expanding federal shelter capacity and enhancing training programs for state-level staff.
“The allegations made in the circulated video are entirely false. They distort the facts and undermine the progress being made to address gender-based violence in Nigeria. Every case brought to the Ministry’s attention is treated with urgency and care, and every claim is rigorously verified.
“We encourage Nigerians, the media, and all stakeholders to seek factual information directly from the Ministry. The FMWA’s commitment to survivors is unwavering, evidence-based, and results-driven—reflected in its immediate interventions, long-term support systems, and broader systemic reforms,” the statement concluded.
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