The legal framework
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. As elsewhere in the region, the gap is not in the legislation but in shelter capacity, transport to courts and consistent police response.
Key points
| Protection order | Available from the magistrates' court, usually without a lawyer |
|---|---|
| Definition of abuse | Includes psychological and economic abuse in the more recent statutes |
| Emergency response | Police units specialising in gender-based violence exist in most districts |
| Medical evidence | A medical report is the key document; obtain it as early as possible |
| Shelters | Limited in number and mostly NGO-run |
| Children | Can be included in a protection order |
| 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
- Build a record: dated notes, photographs, medical reports, messages and names of witnesses.
- Plan the exit before announcing it — separation is statistically the most dangerous period.
- Keep identity documents, some money and a spare set of keys somewhere safe outside the home.
- Tell schools and employers where safety arrangements are needed.
- 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.
Cost and coverage
Protection order applications are free or very low-cost; legal aid organisations and law clinics provide free representation.
Recent changes
The clearest regional improvement has been the spread of one-stop centres, which remove the need to travel between police station, hospital and court.
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
Getting the medical report early is decisive: most cases that fail in these systems fail for want of documentation, not for want of law. 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.
Official sources and links
- Nigeria.gov.ng — official government portal