A new nationwide survey has revealed that ten years after Nigeria passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), over half of the population remains unaware of the law’s existence.
The research, conducted by Invictus Africa across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (excluding Kano), surveyed 11,574 Nigerians from diverse social and economic backgrounds.
Speaking in Abuja during the survey’s presentation, the Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Bukky Shonibare, explained that only 49.3% of respondents had even heard of the VAPP Act. Among them, just 29% understood what it covers.
The remaining 50.7% had never heard of it.
The findings suggest that education plays a crucial role in enhancing awareness.
Just 23.8% of people without formal education and 23.9% of those with only primary education knew about the law, compared to 55.4% of university graduates and 60.6% of postgraduates.
Geography and occupation also influence awareness, with 42.9% of rural residents aware of the Act versus 54% of urban dwellers.
Civil servants had the highest awareness levels at 59.7%, while the self-employed, students and the unemployed recorded the lowest awareness levels at 40.6%, 46.3%, and 36.9%, respectively.
NGO and CSO workers had the highest overall awareness at 75.2%.
The survey identified four key areas that influence the effectiveness of the law: public awareness, enforcement systems, support services, and coordination mechanisms.
Some states, such as Kwara, Rivers, and Delta, were identified as lagging in implementing the Act. Despite the law’s ten-year history, significant gaps remain in its enforcement.
While 23 states have created sex offender registers, only 18 have linked these to broader gender-based violence tracking systems, limiting their usefulness in preventing repeat crimes.
Also, although 32 states have provisions for issuing protection orders, 19 states were unable to provide any data on actual use.
Binta Bello, Director General of NAPTIP, which is responsible for enforcing the Act in the FCT, said the agency has secured 36 convictions from over 3,000 reported gender-based violence cases, including two life sentences.
Gender rights activist and advisor Ene Ede also spoke about the importance of accurate data in identifying areas for improvement and ensuring effective action against violence.
She praised Invictus Africa for providing such valuable insight into how the law works—or fails to function — in real life.