Nigeria Creates 774 Safe Spaces for Violence Survivors

Nigeria is building a nationwide network of safe spaces where survivors of gender-based violence can find immediate help, protection, and a path to justice.

The Federal Government announced plans to establish dedicated support centers in all 774 local government areas across the country. Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim signed a partnership agreement with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and New Era Foundation to make it happen.

The timing couldn't be more urgent. Between January and April 2026 alone, Nigeria documented 2,755 cases of gender-based and intimate partner violence. That's 23 reported cases every single day.

Women and girls account for 81 percent of survivors, with sexual violence representing 82 percent of cases. Yet only four percent of reported cases have resulted in successful prosecution.

The new safe spaces will change how survivors access help. Instead of traveling long distances, people can find immediate support, medical care, counseling, and legal referrals right in their communities. Regional mega-protection centers will offer comprehensive services under one roof, including medical treatment, legal assistance, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation programs.

The initiative includes mobile support teams through the Women on Wheels program. These teams will travel to underserved communities, bringing trauma-informed care and essential services directly to women and girls who need them most.

Dr. Muyi Aina, CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, emphasized that gender-based violence creates deep physical, emotional, and social scars. The partnership integrates healthcare, social welfare, and community support systems to address every aspect of recovery.

The New Era Foundation's Patients' Home in Lagos is already being transformed into a rehabilitation center. The facility will provide survivors with temporary shelter, healing support, and empowerment opportunities to help them rebuild their lives.

The Ripple Effect

This nationwide network does more than help individual survivors. By decentralizing support services, Nigeria is creating a system where protection and justice become accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. Communities across the country will have the resources to respond immediately when someone needs help.

The collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, and civil society organizations shows what's possible when institutions work together toward a common goal.

Nigeria is turning the tide on gender-based violence, one safe space at a time.