Legislative Strategies for Combating Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria: Strengthening Enforcement, Protection, and Support Systems

Abstract

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a critical issue in Nigeria, with alarming statistics reported between 2023 and early 2025. In September 2023, the Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, announced that 24,720 GBV cases were documented nationwide within a month1. Subsequently, in November 2024, her successor, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, revealed that 30% of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence2. The trend continued into 2025, with reports indicating a 240% increase in femicide cases in January compared to the previous year3. This brief is therefore to highlight the alarming rise in GBV cases in Nigeria, examine the underlying factors contributing to the crisis, and propose legislative recommendations for the National Assembly to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and support survivors.