Women’s Day IWD 2025, civil society organizations CSOs have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare the rising femicide crisis a national emergency and security threat.
In a powerful joint statement, the groups decried the unchecked violence against women, emphasizing that nearly 30 women have been gruesomely murdered in just two months, with many cases unreported due to institutional neglect and impunity.
“Women are the backbone of economies and communities. A nation where nearly half its population lives in fear cannot thrive,” said Betty Abah, Executive Director of CEE-HOPE.
The CSOs called for rigorous enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), a national emergency hotline, safe shelters for at-risk women, and police reforms to end institutional misogyny.
Senator Natasha’s Suspension: A Mockery of IWD 2025?
The CSOs also condemned the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it a “political purge” and “brazen abuse of power.”
Her removal, they argued, deprives her constituents of representation and exposes the National Assembly’s systemic bias against women in politics.
“Rather than uphold justice, legislators have closed ranks to punish dissent, reinforcing a system where women must endure suppression or be cast aside,” the statement read.
The organizations demanded a public hearing and an independent investigation into the allegations surrounding her suspension.
As the fight for gender equality continues, they called on the government to back words with action—ensuring that women’s safety, dignity, and political participation are non-negotiable.
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