80% Of Sexual Assault Centres Face Survival Crisis In 2025 – Report

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has expressed concerns over the sustainability of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) in Nigeria.

It revealed that about 80 per cent of the facilities depend heavily on donor funding to remain operational.

The chief executive officer of PPDC, Lucy Abagi, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the launch of the organisation’s 2025 Annual Reports and the State of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Nigeria Report.

Abagi described the report as the most comprehensive national assessment of Sexual Assault Referral Centres ever conducted in the country, noting that it examined facilities across several states and exposed significant gaps in Nigeria’s response system for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

According to her, while some states, including Jigawa, Borno and Lagos, have demonstrated encouraging levels of service delivery, many centres in the country continue to struggle with inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, insufficient staffing and weak institutional support.

She noted that Sexual Assault Referral Centres serve as the frontline response mechanism for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence by providing free medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and protection services.

However, she warned that the heavy reliance on donor funding by most centres raises serious concerns about their long-term sustainability.

“Shelters remain unavailable in several locations, while approximately 80 per cent of centres depend heavily on donor funding for survival. Such dependence raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability,” Abagi said.

The report further identified inadequate forensic facilities, limited access to shelters, weak coordination mechanisms and privacy concerns as some of the major challenges confronting the centres.

Abagi called on state governments to establish dedicated budget lines for Sexual Assault Referral Centres, expand shelter facilities, strengthen forensic capabilities and invest in staff training and prevention programmes.

Presenting the reports, the programme manager, Access to Justice, Mariam Omeiza, recommended that federal government improve data management systems is essential for planning, accountability, and advocacy.

Introducing secure digital case management systems across states will enhance record-keeping, confidentiality and case tracking, she said.

In his goodwill message,the senior programme officer of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Nigeria(FIDA), Abu Ayuba, commended PPDC and other stakeholders for producing the reports.

Ayuba said tackling gender-based violence rquires strong institutions, reliable data and sustained collaboration among stakeholders.