At NEC opening in Abuja, Country Vice President Eliana Martins says abuse, kidnappings and exploitation have become a national emergency demanding urgent action.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has sounded a fresh alarm over what it describes as an escalating wave of violence against women and children, warning that the country is witnessing a dangerous pattern of abuse that can no longer be dismissed as isolated criminal incidents.
Speaking at the opening of FIDA Nigeria’s Second Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in Abuja, the organisation’s Country Vice President (CVP), Eliana Martins, said the increasing prevalence of gender-based violence, child abuse, trafficking, exploitation and insecurity reflects deeper institutional failures that require immediate and coordinated intervention.
Martins lamented that behind every reported case lies a human tragedy, with countless women stripped of their dignity and children robbed of safety and opportunity.
“The frequency and severity of violations against women and children in Nigeria can no longer be treated as isolated incidents,” she said. “They reflect a troubling national pattern that demands urgent and sustained action.”
FIDA expressed concern over the growing number of reports involving rape, domestic violence, harmful traditional practices, child labour and neglect, warning that the physical, psychological and economic consequences continue to devastate families and communities across the country.
The association called on governments, security agencies and judicial institutions to strengthen enforcement of laws protecting women and children, expand access to legal aid and survivor support services, and ensure perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted without delay.
According to Martins, protecting women and children is not simply a social obligation but a measure of the nation’s commitment to justice, equality and sustainable development.
Schools Must Not Become Hunting Grounds
Eliana Martins described recent kidnappings involving schoolchildren in Oyo State and Maiduguri as disturbing reminders that many Nigerian children remain unsafe even in environments meant to nurture and protect them.
She said the recurring attacks undermine not only the constitutional right to education but also public confidence in the state’s ability to safeguard its youngest citizens.
“Children should never have to choose between getting an education and staying alive,” Martins said as she urged authorities to strengthen security around schools and accelerate efforts to secure the release of abducted victims.
FIDA warned that persistent insecurity is likely to worsen school dropouts and deepen educational inequality, particularly among girls who already face significant barriers to accessing education.
The association called for stronger collaboration between security agencies, education authorities and local communities to ensure that schools remain safe spaces where children can learn without fear of violence or abduction.
Inflation Is Driving Women and Children Into Exploitation
According to Martins, the soaring cost of living is increasing the prevalence of child labour, school dropouts, child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence as struggling households grapple with the inability to afford food, education and healthcare.
“The increasing cost of living continues to place immense pressure on families, exposing women and children to heightened risks of exploitation and abuse,” she warned.
FIDA urged federal and state governments to implement targeted social protection programmes, expand food security initiatives and improve access to affordable healthcare and education to cushion the impact of the economic crisis.
FIDA stressed that unless meaningful relief measures are introduced, vulnerable populations—particularly women, children, persons with disabilities and displaced families—will continue to bear a disproportionate share of the country’s economic challenges.
Unveils Sweeping Blueprint to Protect Women and Children
The association also advocated targeted economic interventions to cushion vulnerable households from inflation and unemployment, warning that economic distress is increasing exposure to child labour, forced marriage, exploitation and gender-based violence.
FIDA further called for stronger child protection systems, survivor-centred support mechanisms and policies that empower women economically and politically.
“The safety, dignity and rights of women and children are not merely social concerns,” Martins stressed. “They are fundamental human rights and essential indicators of national development.”
The organisation pledged to continue using litigation, advocacy, law reform initiatives and strategic partnerships to hold duty bearers accountable and advance equality, justice and human dignity across Nigeria.
