By JUSTINA AUTA

The Federal Government has inaugurated an additional Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Abia to strengthen Nigeria’s protection framework for women and girls.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mr Ahmed Danbazau, Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, on Thursday in Abuja.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said that as of November 2025, Nigeria had 50 SARCs across 24 states, collectively assisting 58,134 survivors.

She noted, however, that the number remained insufficient compared to the magnitude of reported and unreported cases nationwide.

Suleiman-Ibrahim said it addresses Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which remains pervasive, underreported and increasingly complex in both physical and digital forms.

“Today marks a major step in strengthening the protection architecture for women and girls in Nigeria,” she said.

According to the minister, the SARC provides a safe, confidential and integrated platform for medical care, psychosocial support, legal referral and justice services for survivors.

She said the centre represents a structured and survivor-centred response embedded within the national social development framework.

“A functional SARC ensures that survivors receive confidential, survivor-centred and integrated services under one coordinated framework,” she added, noting that fragmented responses often compound trauma and weaken justice outcomes.

The minister highlighted the rising threat of technology-facilitated GBV, including cyberstalking, digital coercion, online trafficking, image-based abuse and coordinated digital harassment.

“These emerging threats demand stronger institutional response systems that combine legal, psychosocial, medical and digital protection mechanisms,” she said.

Suleiman-Ibrahim commended complementary initiatives, such as the Osusu Abaala Women Palm-Oil Collective, aimed at strengthening women’s incomes and reducing economic vulnerability; a root driver of GBV.

“When women are economically secure, socially organised and institutionally supported, their exposure to exploitation, abuse and dependency significantly declines,” she said.

The minister emphasised the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the national GBV response architecture through policy reforms, survivor support systems, data-driven coordination, and strategic partnerships under the Renewed Hope Social Development Agenda.

She commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring 2026 as the Year for Social Development and Families, calling it a bold step to reposition protection services as a core pillar of national stability, human capital development and social justice.

Suleiman-Ibrahim also appreciated the Government and people of Abia for providing an enabling environment for the centre’s establishment, noting that strong sub-national leadership is critical to building safe communities.

“To our development partners, service providers and frontline responders, your commitment to survivor care, justice and rehabilitation continues to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system,” she said.

She stressed that silence, stigma and impunity must no longer define the experience of survivors, adding: “Access to justice, care and protection must become the national standard.”

The minister expressed confidence that the new SARC would operate with professionalism, confidentiality, accountability and compassion.

“It must serve as a safe space for healing, a gateway to justice and a model for replication across other states of the federation,” she said. (NAN)

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