Breaking: Nigeria's Social Crisis Deepens Due to Rising Violence Against Girls

The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of violence against girls in Nigeria, which it says is exacerbating the country's social crisis. According to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, millions of Nigerian children, especially girls, are facing numerous systemic barriers that undermine their safety, wellbeing, and future productivity. Speaking at a high-level inter-generational dialogue and press briefing in Abuja, Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that approximately 30 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, while one in three girls is still married before the age of 18. The situation is even more dire in rural communities, where child marriage rates are as high as 48 per cent, and millions of girls are trapped in the country's out-of-school crisis. Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that despite existing legal and policy frameworks, abuse, exploitation, and educational exclusion remain widespread across the country, especially in underserved communities. The minister warned that the long-term implications of child marriage, female genital mutilation, and violence against children extend beyond individual trauma to national development concerns. She stated that when a girl is subjected to child marriage, or when a child experiences female genital mutilation, or when any young person is exposed to violence, the nation loses productivity, potential, and long-term economic value. The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to strengthen child protection systems, improve inclusion, and expand access to education and social welfare services. Part of the response includes the ongoing review of the Child Rights Act to address emerging digital-age threats, alongside stronger implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act across states. The government has also developed national action plans on ending violence against children, ending child marriage, and eliminating female genital mutilation. The World Bank-supported AGILE project is being used to scale educational opportunities and digital literacy programmes to more than 8.6 million girls across 18 states. The minister announced plans for a Universal Child Benefit targeting vulnerable children and households, alongside the expansion of the 'Future Now Initiative' aimed at equipping children with digital literacy, STEM education, and artificial intelligence awareness. Nigeria's first National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Policy is awaiting approval, with the government recognizing period poverty as another major barrier affecting girls' school attendance and dignity. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared 2026 as the 'Year of Families and Social Development,' with renewed attention on the role of families in child protection, moral development, and national stability. The government has unveiled the theme for the 2026 National Children's Day celebration as 'Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.' Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that children must no longer be treated merely as beneficiaries of government interventions but as active participants in national development. The minister emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, civil society groups, and the media to advance child welfare and protection. Development partners, including UNICEF, Save the Children, and SOS Children's Villages, were commended for supporting Nigeria's child protection and family strengthening programmes.