As of early 2026, Nigeria remains a key focal point in the global effort to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with an estimated 20 million women and girls affected by the consequences of the practice. Despite existing laws and sustained advocacy campaigns, FGM continues to pose a serious health risk, with emerging concerns about its growing medicalisation.
FGM refers to all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia, or other forms of injury to female genital organs, for non-medical reasons. It is most commonly carried out on young girls, though older females are not entirely spared.
The highest prevalence rates are recorded in the South-South region, particularly in Delta State—especially in Agbor—as well as in parts of the Southwest, including Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo and Osun states. Significant regional disparities persist, with Delta State reporting rates as high as 62 percent, while some northern states record less than one percent.
Although the practice is prohibited by law, deeply rooted cultural beliefs and misconceptions continue to drive its persistence. Traditional practitioners remain active in several communities, reinforcing its continuity.
FGM is widely regarded as a deeply entrenched and underreported issue, sustained in part by a “moral numbing” effect shaped by longstanding cultural norms.
In 2026 alone, millions of girls in Nigeria remain at risk of undergoing FGM, contributing significantly to the estimated 4.5 million girls worldwide who face the threat of the practice this year.