Lagos First Lady unveils Lagos Police GBV Centre, vows protection for survivors

First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Monday unveiled the remodelled Lagos State Police Gender-Based Violence and Family Support Centre in Ikeja, describing the upgraded facility as a decisive turning point in the government’s fight against domestic and sexual abuse.

The unveiling coincided with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a period dedicated to raising awareness and mobilising action to protect women and girls.

Sanwo-Olu said the project stemmed from an urgent need to restore dignity and justice to survivors who often face traumatising experiences when seeking help.

“When I first received the request in 2023 to remodel the Gender Unit, what I saw was not just a proposal; it was a cry for help,” she said.

She explained that the unit had been operating from a cramped and unkempt two-room office, unsuitable for sensitive cases brought forward by vulnerable individuals.

Sanwo-Olu stated that the newly upgraded centre now provides special interview rooms, electronic and video recording systems, a short-stay hostel for male and female survivors, medical and psychological support units, vocational training rooms, recreational areas, and enhanced administrative facilities.

She described the development as a major step in repositioning Lagos’ response to gender-based violence, saying “I can confidently say this is the Lagos we envision, where survivors are not silenced, where justice is not delayed, and where every individual is protected.”

The First Lady stressed that infrastructure alone cannot eradicate gender-based violence.

“It is the people who work within them-officers, investigators, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and first responders, who carry the true burden of change,” she noted, urging professionals to handle cases with compassion, confidentiality, and integrity.

Sanwo-Olu described gender-based violence as “a violation of humanity and one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time,” reaffirming the state government’s commitment to prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership under the THEMES+ agenda.

She delivered a reassuring message to survivors: “You are seen. You are believed. You matter. And Lagos State stands with you.”

She also acknowledged the proposal by the Lagos Police Command to name the centre after her, describing it as “a profound responsibility,” and called on community leaders, religious institutions, civil society, schools, and political actors to sustain the fight against abuse.

The centre, she said, must continue to serve as a “beacon of hope, courage, and healing” for years to come.

At the ceremony, Commissioner of Police Olohundare Moshood Jimoh revealed that the Lagos State Police Command arrested 219 perpetrators of gender-based and related offences over the past year, describing the Centre’s performance as evidence of “progress and effective policing.”

He said the Command had made measurable gains in tackling sexual, domestic, and child-related crimes and emphasised the importance of reviewing achievements as the state enters a new year of enforcement and improved support for survivors.

Jimoh also addressed the offence of failure to provide necessities, urging women to recognise that neglect by spouses is a criminal matter.

He called for increased awareness, noting that such cases often leave women and children in severe hardship.

Also speaking, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the remodelled centre as a critical milestone in Lagos’ pursuit of a justice system that truly prioritises survivors and vulnerable people.

He said the centre reinforces the government’s security and good governance agenda and complements longstanding investments in domestic and sexual violence response.

“This Centre is crucial to strengthening the security and good governance agenda of the State Government,” he said.

Pedro emphasised that while Lagos has recorded progress in arresting, prosecuting, and convicting perpetrators, justice would be incomplete without meaningful support for victims.

“If the vulnerable and disadvantaged do not have access to justice, restoration, and restitution, then justice is incomplete,” he added.

The Attorney General expressed satisfaction with the initiative and voiced hope that similar centres would be established across all divisions of Lagos State to expand access to justice and survivor support.