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.

On Thursday, the agency posted educational materials on its X account, @Lagosdsva, to teach people about the FRIES framework—which means Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific.

The DSVA explained that real consent means saying yes without pressure, fear, deception, or force, and that people can change their mind at any time, even during intimate moments.

Additionally, the agency stated that consent requires having complete information and receiving truthful details about what someone is agreeing to, and it cannot exist if someone provides false or misleading information.

The DSVA also stressed that true consent is a genuine and voluntary choice, not something someone accepts because they face force, pressure, or want to prevent harm.

Lastly, the agency noted that consent is situation-specific, meaning agreeing to one sexual activity does not mean agreeing to other sexual activities.

The DSVA makes a solid case that genuine consent requires real understanding—you can’t ethically get someone to agree through deception or manipulation. They emphasize that authentic consent has to be straightforward and given willingly, never coerced through intimidation, threats, or pressure to avoid discomfort.

It’s worth noting that the DSVA points out consent is situation-specific and can’t be transferred: agreeing to one sexual activity doesn’t automatically mean yes to everything else. This distinction is crucial for safeguarding someone’s freedom to make choices.

The DSVA is crystal clear about protecting kids, stating that anyone under 18 cannot legally consent to sex. Drawing on the Nigerian Child Rights Act (2003) and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law (2007)—which define children as anyone under 18—they demonstrate that these protections are non-negotiable. Claims about not knowing a child’s age or a child’s own agreement can’t override these rules, and violations can result in life imprisonment.

Additionally, the DSVA clarifies that consent isn’t simply staying silent, being intimidated, giving in, or not resisting. It’s not a one-time agreement that sticks around forever. Real consent means actively saying yes repeatedly for each particular act.

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

(NAN)