The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has issued a stern warning that minors cannot give consent to sexual intercourse under any circumstances, calling on the public to uphold key principles of consent and protect children from sexual violence.
In a statement published on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle (@Lagosdsva) on Thursday, the agency highlighted the “FRIES” framework Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific as the foundation for understanding lawful and mutually agreeable sexual activity.
According to the DSVA, genuine consent requires five critical elements:
Freely Given: Consent must occur voluntarily, completely free from pressure, threats, manipulation, or coercion.
Reversible: A person retains the right to withdraw consent at any point, even after sexual activity has already commenced.
Informed: Agreement must be based on a clear, truthful understanding of what is taking place; consent obtained through deception or trickery is invalid.
Enthusiastic: Sexual activity should involve an active, willing choice rather than reluctant compliance driven by fear, pressure, or a desire to exit an uncomfortable situation.
Specific: Permission granted for one particular sexual act does not imply blanket agreement to any other activity.
The agency stressed that consent cannot be inferred from silence, fear, pressure, passive non-resistance, or previous sexual encounters.
Addressing statutory rape, the agency emphasized that under Nigerian law, individuals under the age of 18 are legally incapable of giving consent to sexual intercourse. Citing both the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003 and the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law of 2007, the DSVA reiterated that any sexual act with a minor is a severe criminal offense.
The DSVA further clarified that statutory rape attracts a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction, adding that claims of age misrepresentation or alleged consent by a minor offer no legal defense.
The agency urged members of the public to internalize the FRIES principles to build a culture of mutual respect, clear boundaries, and heightened protection for vulnerable children across Lagos State.
