A startling revelation by the Lagos State Government has shown that nearly 200 men were among thousands of victims of domestic and sexual abuse reported across the state in 2025, highlighting the often-overlooked reality that gender-based violence affects both women and men.
According to the government, while women accounted for the overwhelming majority of victims, with 6,213 reported cases, 540 cases involved male victims. She further revealed that 2,460 survivors secured justice through legal and institutional interventions, including 2,263 women and 197 men.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Bolaji Dada, disclosed on Monday that a total of 6,753 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were reported across Lagos State during the year under review.
The figures were unveiled during the ministry’s ministerial press briefing marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Dada described the statistics as evidence of the state’s determination to tackle domestic violence, sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence through a combination of legal action, counselling, public enlightenment and emergency response services.
“Our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring that every survivor receives protection, support and access to justice,” she said.
The commissioner disclosed that 116 offenders were prosecuted during the period, while 3,099 survivors received recovery, counselling and support services designed to help victims heal from traumatic experiences.
In addition, 273 survivors benefited from livelihood support programmes, providing financial assistance and skills development opportunities aimed at helping them regain independence and rebuild their lives.
She noted that the ministry’s Domestic Violence Unit continues to play a central role in addressing domestic and sexual violence across the state.
“The Domestic Violence Unit remains dedicated to its mandate of eradicating domestic violence and ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all residents of Lagos State,” Dada stated.
As part of prevention efforts, the ministry implemented 75,037 anti-GBV interventions across Lagos communities, including advocacy programmes, awareness campaigns and public sensitisation exercises.
The initiatives targeted schools, religious organisations, community leaders, men and boys, and vulnerable groups in urban, rural and riverine areas.
As gathered, the campaigns were designed to promote healthy relationships, encourage reporting of abuse and foster non-violent conflict resolution.
The commissioner also highlighted improvements in the state’s emergency response framework through the WAPA Call Service Centre, which is integrated with the Lagos State Command and Control Centre via the emergency number 767.
The centre serves as a first point of contact for survivors, offering guidance, referrals and access to services such as shelters, counselling, legal aid and law enforcement support.
According to Dada, 340 cases were reported through the centre during the review period, a development she described as a sign of growing public confidence in the state’s intervention mechanisms.
Among the major milestones recorded during the year were the completion of a new survivor shelter in Agidingbi and the launch of the Lagos State Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) Policy.
The policy aims to strengthen protection against abuse within tertiary institutions and create safer learning environments for students and staff.
The state also continued collaborations with key stakeholders, including the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and international partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Reaffirming the government’s stance, Dada stressed that the Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy on domestic violence and gender-based abuse.
“The success of our interventions is a reflection of the state’s commitment to social inclusion, protection of vulnerable groups and the creation of safer communities where residents can live with dignity and security,” she said.