NAPTIP to Launch FCT Command Centre for SGBV Cases

• NAPTIP plans to establish a command centre in the FCT to enhance responses to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and support survivors
• The initiative aims to improve coordination among stakeholders, expedite SGBV case handling, and serve as a model for other states

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced plans to establish a command centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and other forms of violence.

Binta Adamu Bello, NAPTIP’s Director-General, revealed the initiative during the 2024 Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting on implementing the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.

Represented by Josiah Emerole, Director of Research and Development, Bello emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling SGBV.

She stated, “The command centre will enable quicker responses to SGBV cases, improve coordination among stakeholders, offer specialized support for survivors, and strengthen the investigation and prosecution of offenders. It will also serve as a model for other states and boost efforts to eradicate SGBV within the FCT.”

The agency plans to collaborate with states, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to implement the Violence Against Persons Act and related laws effectively.

Tolu Odugbesan, Director of NAPTIP’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition Department, highlighted the proposed centre’s importance.

She noted its potential to expedite SGBV cases and support the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Bwari, currently the only such facility in the FCT.

“This year alone, we’ve documented over 728 cases of SGBV, rescued 353 victims—44 males and 309 females—and secured 11 convictions. The new command centre aims to reduce these numbers significantly,” Odugbesan explained.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Tabitha Bako, representing the Inspector General of Police, urged stakeholders to ensure the meeting leads to actionable outcomes.

She stressed the importance of strengthening existing laws and encouraging more states to adopt the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.

The proposed command centre reflects NAPTIP’s ongoing efforts to enhance support for SGBV survivors and bolster the fight against violence in the FCT and beyond.