As the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 6, 2026, Nigeria remains a focal point in the global struggle against this deeply entrenched human rights violation.
With an estimated 20 million survivors, Nigeria accounts for about 10% of the over 230 million girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM.
This practice, involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, persists despite federal bans and international commitments.
As a journalist examining the landscape, I’ll delve into the levels of FGM – both hidden and openly practiced – in Nigeria, drawing on recent data, trends, and societal dynamics to assess progress and persistent challenges.
Prevalence and trends: A mixed picture of decline and persistence
Nigeria holds the dubious distinction of having the third-highest number of FGM survivors globally, behind only countries like Egypt and Ethiopia.
According to the latest UNICEF data from March 2025, national prevalence among women aged 15-49 has shown a downward trajectory, dropping from 25% in 2013 to around 15-20% in recent surveys, depending on the dataset.
The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) reported a further decline to 15 per cent among this group, compared to 18 per cent in 2016-2017.
For girls aged 0-14, the picture is more concerning in earlier data: prevalence rose slightly from 16.9 per cent in 2013 to 19.2 per cent in 2018 per the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). However, the 2021 MICS indicates a sharp drop to 8 per cent, suggesting that awareness campaigns and legal measures may be gaining traction.
These figures mask significant variations. Intergenerational trends are encouraging: girls aged 15-19 are less than half as likely to have undergone FGM compared to women aged 45-49. Yet, the practice affects an estimated 19.9-20 million Nigerian women and girls, with projections indicating that without accelerated action, millions more could be at risk by 2030, aligning with global estimates of 22.7 million additional cases worldwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated hidden cases, with some studies noting an uptick in prevalence during lockdowns, though overall national data points to a net decline.
Regional hotspots: Where FGM thrives openly
FGM in Nigeria is not uniform; it is deeply rooted in cultural, ethnic, and regional contexts. The practice is most prevalent in the South West and South East zones, where it is often viewed as a rite of passage or a means to control female sexuality.
States like Osun (76.6%), Ekiti (48%), and Katsina (59%) report alarmingly high rates. Among ethnic groups, Yoruba (34.7%) and Igbo (30.7%) women experience the highest prevalence, though these figures have halved in some areas over the past three decades.
In these communities, FGM is sometimes performed openly during ceremonies, justified by myths of promoting chastity, hygiene, or marital fidelity. Traditional cutters, often elderly women who rely on the practice for income and status, continue to operate with community sanction, particularly in rural areas where enforcement is lax.
In northern states like Kaduna and Nasarawa, prevalence varies – Nasarawa saw an 18.9 per cent increase in some metrics post-COVID, while Kaduna experienced a nearly 40 per cent decrease.
Here, FGM intersects with other forms of gender-based violence, and while less widespread than in the south, it persists in pockets influenced by cultural exchanges or migration.
The hidden face: Underground practices and medicalization
While open ceremonies still occur in isolated villages, the 2015 Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which criminalizes FGM federally, has driven much of the practice underground.
Families fearful of prosecution now opt for secretive cuttings, often at home or in hidden locations, evading detection. This shift has led to increased risks, as procedures are rushed and unhygienic, exacerbating complications like infections, chronic pain, and obstetric issues.
A particularly insidious trend is the medicalization of FGM, where health workers perform the procedure in clinical settings. Globally, about 1 in 4 survivors (52 million) were cut by medical professionals, and in Nigeria, this is rising among adolescents – twice as likely as among older women.
This sanitized version lends a false veneer of legitimacy, but it violates medical ethics and perpetuates harm. Civil society groups report that in urban areas, affluent families seek out doctors to avoid traditional risks, further entrenching the practice in hidden, pseudo-medical forms.
Recent social media discussions on X highlight this duality. On February 6, 2026, advocates like @kayodeteslim emphasized high-burden states and called for investment, while @savagembanasorc decried FGM as outright violence masked as culture. These posts underscore community reluctance to report cases, fearing social ostracism, which allows hidden practices to flourish.
Efforts and challenges: Laws, advocacy, and the path forward
Nigeria’s National Policy and Plan of Action for the Elimination of FGM (2021-2025) provides a framework for action, emphasizing community engagement and enforcement.
Organizations like UNFPA-UNICEF’s Joint Programme, along with local NGOs such as Trailblazer Initiative and Women Consortium of Nigeria, are sensitizing communities and training law enforcement. Public opinion is shifting: 64 per cent of women aged 15-49 want to end the practice.
Yet, challenges abound. Enforcement is inconsistent across states, with only some adopting the VAPP Act. Funding shortfalls, coupled with pushback against gender equality, threaten progress.
The 2026 theme, “Towards 2030: No End to Female Genital Mutilation Without Sustained Commitment and Investment,” resonates here as Nigeria is off-track for the SDG target without more resources.
A call for vigilance
FGM in Nigeria embodies a tension between fading traditions and resilient harms. Openly practiced in cultural strongholds, it increasingly hides in shadows, medicalized or clandestine, evading laws meant to eradicate it. While prevalence is declining overall, hotspots and hidden trends demand urgent, sustained action.
As advocates rally with hashtags like #Invest2EndFGM and #EndFGMNigeria, the message is clear: ending this violation requires not just laws, but community-led change, investment in education, and unwavering political will. Only then can Nigeria protect its girls and women from a practice that has no place in a just society.
