The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has warned that a child cannot consent to sexual intercourse, urging the public to understand and respect the basic principles of consent.
The agency gave the warning in a post shared on its X handle, @Lagosdsva, on Thursday, while educating residents on the FRIES principles—Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic and Specific.

It stated that consent must be freely given without pressure, threats, manipulation or coercion, adding that it could be withdrawn at any time, even after sexual activity had begun.

According to the DSVA, consent must also be informed and based on an understanding of what a person is agreeing to, noting that it cannot be obtained through deception.

The agency said consent should be an enthusiastic, willing choice, rather than something given out of fear, pressure, or a desire to end an uncomfortable situation.

It added that consent was specific, stressing that agreement to one sexual activity did not automatically mean agreement to another.

The DSVA stressed that a child can not consent to sexual intercourse, citing the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003 and the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law of 2007, which define a child as a person below 18 years.

It said the laws prohibited sexual intercourse with a child, adding that it was immaterial that an offender claimed to have believed that the child was above 18 or that the child had consented.

According to the agency, the offence carries a life sentence on conviction.

The DSVA further stressed that consent is not silence, fear, pressure or the absence of resistance and is not a one-time permission.

It urged residents to remember the FRIES principles and promote a culture that respected boundaries and protected children from sexual abuse.

(NAN)