Rights Activists Renew Calls to End Rising Menace of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria
By Mijinyawa Ahmed
A human rights advocate, Mr. Samuel Alabi, has renewed calls for intensified efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria, describing the practice commonly referred to as circumcision of the girl child as a dangerous and outdated tradition that continues to expose millions of young girls and women to grave health and psychological risks.
Speaking at a weekend news conference, in Bauchi, Alabi lamented that despite decades of advocacy, Nigeria still ranks among countries with the highest number of circumcised women globally,
“Owing largely to its huge population and persistent cultural attachment to the practice. Current estimates suggest that between 115 and 130 million women worldwide have undergone FGM, with Nigeria contributing significantly to this figure.
According to recent reviews, the national prevalence rate of FGM stands at about 41 percent among young girls and adult women. International organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), UNICEF.
The African Union (AU), and numerous women’s rights groups have continued to push for the total eradication of the harmful practice in Nigeria, Africa, and other affected regions across the world.Despite these efforts, Nigeria is yet to enact a comprehensive federal law banning FGM.
The practice remains widespread, particularly in the South West, South East, South South, and some northern communities where it is deeply rooted in long-standing customs and beliefs passed from one generation to another.
The consequences, however, have been devastating. Reports show increasing cases of death, severe infections, complications during childbirth, psychological trauma, and lifelong health challenges resulting from FGM procedures.
The fear of forced circumcision has also driven many families into hiding or exile. Several families from Oyo, Ondo, Imo, Delta states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were reported to have fled their homes in recent years, seeking safety and refuge within and outside Nigeria.
Alabi described the trend as alarming and unacceptable in the modern world, stressing that FGM is widely recognized as a violation of human rights and an affront to the dignity of women and girls.
He urged communities, civil society groups, and government agencies to intensify grassroots awareness campaigns on the dangers of FGM and promote the benefits of completely abandoning the practice.
Alabi further appealed for collective, community-driven action to end the menace, saying Nigeria must align with global efforts to protect the health, rights, and future of its female population.
