Nigeria Faces Child Abuse Crises: Poll Highlights High Prevalence, Limited Knowledge of Reporting Channels
- Feb 25
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Abuja, Nigeria. June 9, 2025 – An opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls in the week commencing May 12th, 2025, revealed that 92% of Nigerians acknowledge the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria. Shockingly, 51 percent of those surveyed are not aware of where to report cases of child abuse. These findings corroborate reports from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and UNICEF, which highlight the escalating nature of violence against children in Nigeria.[1] Similarly, UNICEF’s report revealed that child abuse in all its forms is a daily reality for many Nigerian children, and only a fraction ever receive help.[2]
Furthermore, the poll reveals that a significant proportion of Nigerians understand the concept of child abuse, defining it as sexual exploitation or molestation (30 percent), violation of a child's rights to safety and security (30 percent), physical harm or injury (29 percent), and failure to provide basic needs (24 percent), amongst other views. These definitions underscore the multifaceted nature of child abuse and the need for comprehensive approaches to address it.
More than half (55 percent) of those surveyed reported having observed children undergo one form of abuse or another in their respective localities. The North-Central (59 percent) and North-East (58 percent) regions had the highest proportions of respondents reporting such observations. Additionally, more males (61 percent) than females (48 percent) stated they had witnessed child abuse, indicating potential differences in exposure or awareness between genders.
The forms of abuse mostly observed include physical abuse (44 percent), abandonment (30 percent), sexual abuse (25 percent), and financial abuse (23 percent), amongst others. These findings align with reports from UNICEF and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which highlight the pervasive nature of violence against children in Nigeria.[3] According to UNICEF, six out of every ten children in Nigeria experience some form of violence, with one in four girls and 10% of boys being victims of sexual violence.[4]
When asked about the causes of child abuse, respondents cited poverty (41 percent), parental neglect (26 percent), and economic hardship (7 percent) as the top factors. Additionally, 21 percent of respondents reported knowing an immediate family member who has suffered financial abuse, indicating the widespread nature of this cause.
In response to witnessing child abuse, 42 percent of Nigerians stated they would report the incident to the authorities, 23 percent said they would ensure the safety of the child, and 11 percent would call for help. However, 6 percent of respondents indicated they would mind their own business, emphasising a need for increased awareness and sensitisation on the importance of intervening in cases of child abuse.
To reduce the incidence of child abuse in Nigeria, respondents suggested several measures. These include creating awareness on the effects of child abuse (26 percent), enacting, and enforcing strict legislation against child abuse (17 percent), improving the country’s economy (14 percent), creating more jobs (12 percent), encouraging free education (8 percent), providing child welfare for the less privileged (7 percent), and promoting parental care (4 percent). These suggestions point to the need for a multifaceted approach that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of child abuse. Similarly, findings underscore a need for urgent attention in addressing the pervasive issue of child abuse in Nigeria. Efforts to raise awareness, provide support, and protect children from abuse are crucial to mitigating this problem.
Background
According to UNICEF and the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18.[5] Children play a vital role in their families and communities, and their protection is crucial for their development and future contributions to society.[6] However, many children in Nigeria suffer from various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect.[7]
Child abuse is a pervasive issue in Nigeria, often exacerbated by cultural practices, ignorance of child rights laws, and poor enforcement.[8] Under-reporting of child abuse is common due to fear, societal attitudes, and lack of awareness.[9] The consequences of child abuse can be severe, affecting children's physical and emotional well-being and ultimately impacting the nation's development.
Protecting children from abuse is essential for their healthy growth, confidence, and ability to reach their full potential. Although effective laws and policies exist to protect children's rights, stronger efforts are needed to ensure they are properly enforced to tackle the underlying causes of child abuse.[10] Following this, NOIPolls conducted a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding child abuse.
Survey Findings
Findings from this survey revealed that Nigerians have varying definitions of child abuse, with 30 percent of respondents associating child abuse with sexual exploitation or molestation. In comparison, 30 percent saw it as a violation of a child's rights to safety and security, and 29 percent of respondents defined child abuse as inflicting physical harm or injuries on a child, amongst others. These varying perspectives highlight a need for awareness and education on the multifaceted nature of child abuse.
Figure 1:
Furthermore, 92 percent of respondents believe that child abuse is prevalent in the country. Analysis by age group revealed that those aged 61 and above had the most significant proportion (98 percent) of respondents who believe there is a high prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria.
Figure 2:
Fifty-five percent of responders have observed children undergo abusive treatment in their locality. Analysis by region revealed respondents from the North-Central (59 percent) and North-East (58 percent) account for the highest proportion of Nigerians who reportedly see children undergo abusive treatments in their locality, with more males (61 percent) than females (48 percent) stating this.
Figure 3:
The analysis of poll results conducted in 2017, 2022, and 2025 shows a 5 percent increase in the proportion of respondents who report witnessing child abuse in their respective locations.
Figure 4:
Fifty-five percent of respondents who had seen children undergo abusive treatment in their locality mentioned that physical abuse (44 percent), abandonment (30 percent), sexual abuse (25 percent), and financial abuse (23 percent) were the common forms of child abuse, amongst others.
Figure 5:
When asked the main reasons for the incidence of child abuse, the poll revealed that 41 percent of Nigerians highlighted poverty. Other reasons include parental neglect (26 percent), bad economy (7 percent), ignorance (4 percent), marital strife (4 percent), and wickedness (3 percent).
Figure 6:
Interestingly, a greater proportion (42 percent) of respondents disclosed that they would report child abuse cases to the authorities. This is followed by those who say they would ensure the child's safety (23 percent), call for help (11 percent), or caution or give advice (9 percent). Sadly, only 6 percent of respondents say they would mind their business should they witness an incident of child abuse.
Figure 7:
The poll further probed to know if respondents have any family member below the age of 18 who had suffered from specific forms of child abuse. The result indicated that financial abuse (21 percent), discriminatory abuse (19 percent), and abandonment (17 percent) were the most common types of abuse experienced by respondents’ family member(s).
Figure 8:
To gauge the level of awareness of Nigerians on reporting channels for incidents of child abuse, respondents were asked if they were aware of any channel, and the poll result indicated that only 49 percent answered in the affirmative. About half of the respondents surveyed (51 percent) said they are unaware of any reporting channel, with the South-South region (61 percent) having the highest number of respondents who stated this, followed by the South-West (59 percent) and South-East (58 percent) regions.
Figure 9:
Respondents suggested that creating awareness on the effects of the menace, including enactment and enforcement of strict legislation against child abuse, and improving the country’s economy, amongst others, can help curb the incidence of child abuse in the country.
Figure 10:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the survey's findings paint a stark picture of child abuse in Nigeria, with a staggering 92 percent of respondents acknowledging its prevalence. The root causes ranged from poverty and parental neglect to ignorance and cultural attitudes. The disturbingly high rates of various forms of abuse experienced by children in Nigerian families underscore the urgency of the situation. More so, the lack of awareness about reporting channels for child abuse cases is a significant concern.
To combat this menace, a comprehensive approach is necessary, encompassing awareness-raising, strict legislation, economic development, job creation, and parental care, as highlighted by the respondents. Ultimately, addressing child abuse requires a sustained effort to tackle its underlying causes and ensure effective implementation of laws and policies. While the goal of ending all forms of violence against children by 2030 remains challenging, immediate action is necessary to safeguard Nigeria's children and secure their future.
Survey Methods
The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing May 12th, 2025. It involved Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) of a proportionate nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political regions and 36 states and the FCT of the country. Interviews were conducted in 5 languages – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Pidgin English, and English. Although we can say with 95% confidence that the results are statistically precise, within a margin of error of plus or minus 4.65%. We recognize that the exclusive use of telephone polling has limitations, as it excludes non-phone-owning Nigerians. Nonetheless, with the country’s tele-density exceeding 100 percent according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we consider our telephone polling approach appropriate. Also, given the rigorous scientific process of randomisation and stratification applied, we can confidently stand by the validity of our methodology and approach. NOIPolls Limited is the no. 1 for country-specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com.
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues that form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share poll results with the public, we request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as the author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited, or published. NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect the views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or facts, or any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken because of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions, or views herein constitute a judgment as of the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls' current findings and/or thinking.
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