The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria, has raised alarm over the worsening violence, insecurity and economic hardship affecting women and children across the country, warning that the situation has become a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated action.
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Speaking at the opening of FIDA Nigeria’s Second Quarter National Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, the Country Vice President, Eliana Martins, said the rising cases of gender-based violence, child abuse, trafficking, school abductions and exploitation show a troubling pattern that can no longer be treated as isolated incidents.
Martins said behind every reported case of abuse is a human tragedy, with many women stripped of their dignity and children denied safety, education and opportunity.
“The frequency and severity of violations against women and children in Nigeria can no longer be treated as isolated incidents,” she said. “They reflect a troubling national pattern that demands urgent and sustained action.”
FIDA expressed concern over increasing reports of rape, domestic violence, harmful traditional practices, child labour, neglect, trafficking and other forms of abuse, noting that the physical, psychological and economic consequences continue to devastate families and communities.
The association called on governments, security agencies and judicial institutions to strengthen enforcement of laws protecting women and children, expand access to legal aid and survivor-support services, and ensure that perpetrators are promptly investigated and prosecuted.
Martins said the protection of women and children is not merely a social obligation but a reflection of Nigeria’s commitment to justice, equality and sustainable development.
FIDA also condemned the repeated abduction of schoolchildren, warning that schools must not become places of fear for Nigerian children.
Martins described recent kidnappings involving schoolchildren in Ondo State and Maiduguri as disturbing reminders that many children remain unsafe even in environments meant to protect and nurture them.
According to her, the recurring attacks on schools undermine children’s constitutional right to education and weaken public confidence in the ability of the state to protect its youngest citizens.
“Children should never have to choose between getting an education and staying alive,” Martins said.
She urged authorities to strengthen security around schools, improve intelligence gathering, and accelerate efforts to secure the release of abducted pupils.
FIDA warned that persistent insecurity around schools could worsen dropout rates and deepen educational inequality, particularly among girls, who already face social, cultural and economic barriers to education.
The organisation called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, education authorities, local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that schools remain safe spaces where children can learn without fear of violence or abduction.
Martins also warned that the worsening economic situation in the country is pushing vulnerable women and children into deeper exploitation.
She said rising inflation, unemployment and poverty are placing immense pressure on families and forcing many households into desperate coping mechanisms with serious human rights implications.
According to her, the soaring cost of living is increasing the risks of child labour, school dropouts, child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence, especially among families struggling to afford food, healthcare and education.
“The increasing cost of living continues to place immense pressure on families, exposing women and children to heightened risks of exploitation and abuse,” she said.
FIDA urged federal and state governments to introduce targeted social protection programmes, expand food security initiatives, improve access to affordable healthcare and education, and provide meaningful relief for vulnerable households.
The organisation said women, children, persons with disabilities and displaced families are bearing a disproportionate share of the country’s economic challenges and require urgent protection.
Martins maintained that Nigeria must respond to the crisis through a coordinated approach involving law enforcement, social protection, education reform, survivor support, prosecution of offenders and stronger protection systems for women and children.
She said the rising insecurity, abuse and economic hardship affecting women and children should be treated as interconnected national challenges, not separate incidents.
FIDA therefore called on all tiers of government, security institutions, courts, communities, civil society groups and development partners to act urgently to protect women and children, secure schools, prosecute offenders and address the economic conditions driving exploitation and abuse.
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