Consent and age of consent
The Child Rights Act sets 18, but it has not been adopted by every state, and the Criminal and Penal Codes differ between the south and the north. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 broadened the definition of rape and made it gender-neutral at federal level, with state adoption ongoing. Sexual Assault Referral Centres operate in several states and provide free medical and forensic services.
Key points
| Age of consent | 18 where the Child Rights Act applies |
|---|---|
| VAPP Act | Adopted federally in 2015 and domesticated by most states |
| Criminal and Penal Codes | Still apply where the VAPP Act has not been adopted |
| Sexual Offenders Register | Maintained nationally |
In practice
- Check whether your state has domesticated the VAPP Act: it determines which definitions apply.
- Sexual assault referral centres exist in several states and provide free care.
Worth knowing
Because the VAPP Act applies only where a state has adopted it, the offence definitions differ across the country. Establish the position in your state first.
The general article: Consent and age of consent · Compare with another country
Domestic violence
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, adopted by a growing number of states, covers physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.
Protection rests on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 at federal level, adopted by a growing number of states, which covers physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse and provides protection orders. Lagos has a dedicated Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, and several other states have specialised response teams.
Key points
| VAPP Act | Covers a wide range of violence, where a state has adopted it |
|---|---|
| Protection orders | Available from the High Court under the VAPP Act |
| Lagos and other states | Some states have their own domestic violence laws and agencies |
| NAPTIP | Has an enforcement role under the VAPP Act |
In practice
- Check whether your state has adopted the VAPP Act; if not, use the state's own law.
- Contact a state domestic violence agency where one exists — several are effective.
Where to go
- Lagos Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and equivalent state agencies.
- National Human Rights Commission and NAPTIP for trafficking-related cases.
- NGO shelters and legal aid organisations.
Worth knowing
Protection depends heavily on the state. Lagos and a number of others have dedicated agencies and response teams that work; elsewhere the route is the general courts.
The general article: Domestic violence · Compare with another country
Female genital mutilation
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 prohibits FGM at federal level, and a number of states had already legislated. Prevalence is around one woman in five nationally but varies enormously by region, with the highest rates in the south-west and south-east. Nigeria has one of the largest absolute numbers of affected women in the world, and cutting is increasingly performed by health workers.
Nigeria prohibited the practice federally in 2015 through the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, but that Act must be adopted state by state to apply outside the Federal Capital Territory, and adoption is uneven. Prevalence is concentrated in the south rather than the north, contrary to a common assumption, and the worrying trend is medicalisation: an increasing share of procedures performed by health workers.
Key points
| Federal law | Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 |
|---|---|
| State laws | Several states legislated before the federal Act; adoption varies |
| Prevalence | Around one in five women, highly concentrated in the south |
| Age | Frequently performed in infancy, unlike much of the region |
| Medicalisation | Rising, with a growing share performed by health workers |
| Absolute numbers | Among the largest affected populations in the world |
| Care | Available in teaching hospitals; awareness among clinicians is uneven |
In practice
- Check whether your state has adopted the federal Act: enforcement depends on it.
- Report concerns to the police gender desk or to the state agency where one exists.
- Tell the midwife at the first antenatal visit: it changes how delivery is managed.
- Community and religious leaders are central to the programmes that work.
Cost and coverage
Care in public facilities is low cost; teaching hospital services vary.
Where to go
- State agencies established under the Violence Against Persons Act.
- Police gender desks and child protection networks.
- Teaching hospitals for treatment of complications.
Worth knowing
Because cutting is often done in infancy in Nigeria, many women do not know it happened to them. If you have unexplained gynaecological or obstetric difficulties, ask to be examined.
Frequently asked questions
Does the federal ban apply everywhere in Nigeria?
Not automatically. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act applies directly in the Federal Capital Territory and must be domesticated by each state to apply there. Many states have done so; several have not, and a few have their own older laws.
Why is medicalisation a concern?
Because a growing share of procedures is carried out by nurses, midwives or doctors, which makes the practice look safer and more legitimate without changing what it does. Professional bodies treat it as misconduct, and the law makes no exception for medical settings.
The general article: Female genital mutilation · Compare with another country
Sexual offences committed abroad
The offender may face action in Nigeria, where the conduct took place, and in the state to which they belong by nationality or residence.
Nigerian law criminalises child sexual abuse and trafficking, with responsibility divided between federal and state legislation.
The general article: Sexual offences committed abroad · Compare with another country
General sources
- Nigeria.gov.ng — official government portal