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 disclosed that of the 1,000 reported cases, the organisation was only able to address 100, with just eight convictions recorded during the period. She attributed the limited success to inadequate funding and called on all levels of government to prioritize SGBV in their budgets.
“WARDC is a human rights organisation operating nationwide to combat issues such as gender-based violence, child abuse, and child labour,” she explained.
“We need governments and private sector partners to invest in SGBV initiatives and allocate more resources to end violence against women and girls.”
Kpeto further emphasized the importance of incorporating gender-responsive budgeting in state policies and programs, urging the Niger State government to set aside 0.05% of its 2025 budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) like the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and the Child Rights Act Agency.
“Gender-responsive budgeting is about integrating a gender lens at every stage of governance—planning, policy-making, resource allocation, and implementation,” she noted.
“Legislators should champion this framework to ensure sustainable and effective interventions.”