The Women Advocacy, Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) has raised the alarm over the prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Niger State, revealing that no fewer than 1,000 cases were documented between 2023 and 2024.
These cases range from physical assaults to emotional abuse, underscoring the urgent need for action.
The Niger State Coordinator of WARDC, Mrs. Hassana Joan Kpeto, made this known during a press briefing held in Minna over the weekend.
Themed “Invest in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV): Increase Budget to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” the briefing highlighted the critical need for government intervention.
Mrs. Kpeto said that only eight convictions were documented at that time, and the organization was only able to handle 100 of the 1,000 reported instances. She urged all tiers of government to give SGBV top priority in their budgets and blamed the lack of success on a lack of resources.
She clarified that WARDC is a human rights organization that works all throughout the country to address problems including child labor, child abuse, and gender-based violence.
“To end violence against women and girls, we need governments and private sector partners to invest in SGBV initiatives and allocate more resources.”
The Niger State government should provide 0.05% of its 2025 budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) like as these, Kpeto added, underscoring the significance of integrating gender-responsive budgeting into state policies and initiatives.
She stated that “integrating a gender lens at every stage of governance—planning, policy-making, resource allocation, and implementation” is the goal of gender-responsive budgeting.
“This framework should be supported by legislators to guarantee long-lasting and successful interventions.”
