Bauchi Lawmakers Push to Expand SGBV Care

​BAUCHI — Expressing deep concern over rising cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and severe geographical bottlenecks for victims, the Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the establishment of additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the state.

​The motion, presented by the Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, highlighted that the vast state—spanning 20 local government areas—currently relies on a single referral facility located at the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi. Lawmakers noted that this centralized model places an unbearable burden on survivors in remote communities, who often face heavy transportation costs, long delays in medical attention, and heightened risks of stigmatization.

​The House has urged the executive arm, through the Ministries of Health, Women Affairs, Justice, and Humanitarian Affairs, to prioritize setting up at least two fully functional SARCs in each senatorial district under the first phase of the expansion.

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​Furthermore, the assembly mandated its committees on Health, Women Affairs, and Justice to engage critical stakeholders and report back with a comprehensive framework within 60 days. Civil society groups, including the Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative and Plan International, have been instrumental in advocating for the scale-up, emphasizing the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations and secure critical evidence for legal proceedings.