The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will take every possible measure to curb violence against women and girls, with the aim of drastically reducing or completely eliminating it in the near future.
Speaker Abbas made this commitment during the Walk Against Gender-Based Violence held on Monday, which saw participants march from the National Assembly Complex to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The event, organized by UN Women in collaboration with the National Assembly, attracted over 1,000 participants advocating for stronger action against gender-based violence in the country.
Addressing attendees, Abbas stated, “Today is a historic day. The National Assembly has decided to actively participate alongside other groups in the fight against gender violence. This year’s programme comes at a time when women across the globe are crying out in anger and frustration. The United Nations has reported that every 10 minutes, a woman is killed worldwide. This is unacceptable and unforgivable.”
The Speaker emphasized the parliament’s commitment to working with law enforcement agencies to address this trend. He declared, “The National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to ensure all forms of violence against women and girls are drastically reduced, if not eliminated. The House of Representatives will also actively support the creation of policies to reduce violence against women, children, and girls, as part of the 16 Days of Activism to mark the elimination of violence against women in Nigeria.”
Petition Presented to IGP
At the event, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, presented a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. The petition called for justice for victims of gender-based violence and highlighted the alarming statistics: one in three women globally are victims of such violence, while a national survey indicates that 30 percent of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have experienced physical abuse.
Speaking on the issue, Ogbara stated, “We appeal to the IGP to ensure that police officers handle cases of gender-based violence with the seriousness they deserve. There is no excuse for violence against our women, girls, mothers, or families. We are saying no to lecturers threatening students, bosses violating their staff, and fathers raping their daughters.”
In response, the IGP reaffirmed the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence, describing it as a collective responsibility. “Gender-based violence continues to devastate lives across the globe. In Africa, women and girls suffer from domestic violence, sexual assault, genital mutilation, and other abuses. Since 2006, the Nigerian Police Force has implemented a gender policy aligned with global frameworks, and we remain committed to its enforcement,” Egbetokun said.
He assured participants that the petition would be treated as expected, pledging continued efforts to eradicate gender-based violence in Nigeria.
