Every 3 in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical or sexual violence. Yet these numbers only scratch the surface because, from fear to stigma, many survivors stay silent .Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria is a pandemic, claiming lives, shattering families, and denying dreams. In early 2025 alone, nearly two dozen women were killed, an alarming 240% rise from the year before sparking renewed calls for a national state of emergency on GBV .

🧭 The Broken System

Nigeria has laws, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act, but enforcement is inconsistent. Only 26 of 37 states have domesticated the VAPP Act, leaving whole regions vulnerable with no legal recourse . Worse still, many survivors suffer in silence: prosecution rates are low, and many cases never leave the community .

The law can only be as strong as its implementation. And in Nigeria, brutality often goes unpunished.

🌍 CEAF’s Role: The Voice for the Voiceless

At Comfort Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation (CEAF), we refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. Here’s how we fight back:

1. Advocacy & Awareness: We challenge harmful norms, break taboos, and speak publicly about the realities of domestic violence, rape, and child marriage .

2. Survivor Support: We provide legal aid, counseling, and secure housing through our Safe Shelter initiative, a safe haven urgently needed given Nigeria’s shortage of shelters.

3. Education & School Drive: We equip schoolchildren, parents, and teachers with knowledge to identify signs of abuse and prevent it. Empowered students are safer students .

4. Food and Socioeconomic Support: We provide food aid to survivors and vulnerable communities, addressing the link between poverty, abuse, and survival exploitation .

📊 Nigeria’s GBV Landscape: The Latest Developments

GBV Desk Officers in Every Division: As of February 2025, Nigeria has rolled out GBV offices in every police division to improve reporting and response .

Femicide on the Rise: In January alone, 17 femicide were reported, a 240% jump from the same period the year before. Shockingly, many homes are now the most dangerous places for women and girls .

Massive Service Gaps: UNFPA reports massive underfunding, with less than 7% of funds secured for essential GBV and sexual health services across crisis zones like Borno and Niger .

New Hope with GBV Desk Expansion

In February 2025, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, launched an essential reform: GBV desk offices are now in all police divisions nationwide. Previously limited to zonal and state levels, these desks bring justice within reach of survivors at the grassroots. Trained officers now handle such cases with sensitivity and urgency.

On the Ground: The Humanitarian Response

UNFPA’s reports show the dire state of GBV response in crisis zones like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. In April, 6,500 people received reproductive health services, and over 2,600 accessed GBV case management and legal aid. Still, only 6.6% of the needed $15 million in funding for GBV interventions has been secured—leaving a 93% gap that threatens service delivery.

🔥 Why CEAF Stands Firm

1. We demand justice for survivors, not excuses for abusers.

2. We fight impunity, no matter who the perpetrator is.

3. We challenge shame culture that protects predators. We protect survivors.

4. We work to turn laws from words into power.

📝 Your Action Points

* Support CGV legislation and access to justice in all states.

* Raise awareness, break silence and stigma.

* Donate or partner with survivor-focused organizations like CEAF.

* Volunteer skills, time, or mentorship to empower survivors.

🛑 Final Words

GBV in Nigeria is not just a headline, it’s a national crisis. But it can be changed. Through bold advocacy, safe spaces, survivor empowerment, and enforced justice, we can turn the tide.

CEAF stands with survivors. We fight for the voiceless. And we will not stop until every Nigerian: woman, girl, child can live free from fear, violence, and silence.

Join us. Speak up. Save lives.