By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA – THE Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has warned that about 80 per cent of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Nigeria are surviving largely on donor funds, a situation that puts long-term care for survivors at risk.

Lucy Abagi, PPDC’s CEO, revealed the finding on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of the organisation’s 2025 Annual Report and the State of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Nigeria.

She called the report the most comprehensive national assessment of SARCs to date and said it exposes critical weaknesses in the country’s response to sexual and gender‑based violence.

“Our assessment shows that most centres are patchwork solutions — poorly funded, understaffed and reliant on short‑term donor support,” Abagi said.

“That model cannot deliver consistent, lifesaving care. When donor priorities shift, survivors are left without medical care, psychosocial support or legal protection.”

The report praised pockets of progress in some states, naming Jigawa, Borno and Lagos for relatively stronger service delivery.

It however, highlighted widespread challenges: inadequate forensic capacity, limited shelter availability, weak coordination between agencies and ongoing privacy concerns for survivors.

“SARCs should be a refuge, not a gamble,” Abagi added. “State governments must create dedicated budget lines, expand shelter networks and invest in forensic and training capacity so survivors can access justice and recovery close to home.”

PPDC urged federal and state authorities, development partners and civil society to treat the findings as an immediate call to action and to commit to sustainable funding and institutional support.

Beyond SARCs, Abagi outlined PPDC’s recent achievements in justice and governance reforms.

The organisation said its interventions supported more than 20,000 detainees through prison reform and pre‑trial programmes, secured bail or release for 7,801 people detained without conviction, and handled 94 pro bono cases that led to the acquittal or release of 428 detainees.

PPDC also reported technology upgrades under its Court Administration and Case Management Project, with 10 courts fully automated and 11,400 court files digitised.

Abu Ayuba, senior programme officer at the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, urged stakeholders to act on the report.

“Reliable data and strong institutions are the foundation of any effective response to gender‑based violence,” he said. “This report gives us the evidence we need — now we must turn recommendations into tangible services for survivors.”

The PPDC recommendations include introducing state budget lines for SARCs, expanding shelters, strengthening forensic services, improving staff training and enhancing coordination mechanisms across the justice and health sectors.