The Federal Government has decried the high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) cases in the country, as Nigeria accounts for 115 million cases of the 130 million global cases of the practice.
Describing the act as an unnecessary evil and a crime against the girl child and the entire humanity, the government urged all stakeholders to collaborate to ensure that the practice is stopped.
It further disclosed that the Southsouth geopolitical zone has the highest prevalence of FGM practice at 77 percent, while the Southeast and Southwest followed with the prevalence of 68 percent and 65 percent respectively.
Speaking during the official launch of the ‘Movement For Good to End Female Genital Mutilation,’ organised by the UNFPA-UNICEF, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other partners, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, said: “There is no way that female genital mutilation can ever be properly done. It is condemnable. It is a crime against humanity and I pray that all gathered here should leave this hall as ambassadors toward zero tolerance of FGM.
“FGM is a traditional practice inflicted on girls and women worldwide and it is widely recognised as a violation of human rights, which is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and perceptions over decades and generations. The procedure involves the total removal of the partial or total external female genital causing injuries to the female genital organ.
“Statistics have shown that Nigeria has the highest number of cases of FGM in the world, accounting for about one hundred and fifteen million out of one hundred and thirty million circumcised women worldwide. The northern part of Nigeria is not totally free of this practice but is very limited.”
In his remarks, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale urged all relevant stakeholders to commit to ending FGM by the year 2030, as the country’s pace in that regard is unfortunately slow.
