The Federal Government has called for a united front through stakeholders’ alignment of strategies to win the fight against trafficking in persons in Nigeria.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the call at the 28th National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum/Summit on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Let me remind us that human rights and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Wednesday in Abuja.
Fagbemi stated that while Nigeria continues to reflect on progress made and chart the way forward, the results will be much greater when partners align their strategies for coordinated implementation.
“This year’s Anti-Trafficking event stands as a clarion call to action for policymakers, implementers, communities, and the global community to intensify efforts, align strategies, and, ultimately, end the exploitation of our people.
“Nigeria has continued to demonstrate strong and consistent leadership among the comity of nations in combating human trafficking. We have led regional and global collaborations, enacted robust legal frameworks, and established the institutional framework, through NAPTIP, that has become a model on the continent. However, we cannot be complacent at this stage as the criminal elements are always on the prowl,” Fagbemi said.
The minister observed that human trafficking remains a serious threat that weakens Nigeria’s human capital development, funds other types of organised crime, promotes corruption, and worsens the exploitation of innocent Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable among us.
He therefore insisted that “We must also acknowledge that our success in ending human trafficking will determine our success in building a safe, prosperous, and just society.
“As an organised criminal activity with high profit and low risks, human trafficking is highly sophisticated and profit-driven, with an annual profit of over $245 billion US Dollars according to the ILO official report of 2023. A breakdown of this indicates US$169.9 billion for sexual exploitation and US$75.9 billion from forced labour in the private sector, including domestic servitude.”
He also called for an intensified effort to implement international, regional legal and national frameworks for the criminalisation of the crime of trafficking that have been put in place, especially the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crimes (UNTOC) and its Supplementing Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
He said, “The UNTOC provides a unique platform for cooperation among member states in combating this criminal act.
“The operational milestones recorded by NAPTIP from inception to date, with 25,642 victims rescued (of whom 73.8 per cent are females and 48.1 per cent children; arrest of 11,406 suspected traffickers, and 750 convictions (comprising 469 males and 281 females), are worth celebrating, considering the intricacies involved in obtaining a single conviction, in a highly sensitive and clandestine crime such as human.”
Speaking on key projects being undertaken by NAPTIP and it’s partners, Director General NAPTIP, Binta Bello, stressed that the introduction of the reviewed National Data Collection System, which now incorporates refined reporting channels and the unveiling of the new National Dashboard on Human Trafficking, has boosted the Agency’s counter trafficking efforts.
She said, “These are critical components of a comprehensive data ecosystem that supports evidence-based decision-making and accountability in countering human trafficking in Nigeria.
“With the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Trafficking 2022–2026 approaching its conclusion, there is a pressing need to initiate early and strategic discussions toward the development of a new national framework.”
Country Representative of the UNODC, Cheikh Toure, noted that the forum is a culmination of meaningful efforts to end the devastating impact of trafficking in persons.
He said, “As we confront the grim reality of trafficking as a predatory criminal industry, we must also confront the systemic challenges that impede seamless victory.
“We gather acknowledging hard-won progress driven by the tireless leadership of NAPTIP and the dedication of all stakeholders.”
