House seeks full reintegration plan for trafficked Nigerians
The House of Representatives has warned that further delay in passing the Special Seats for Women Bill could undermine efforts to deepen inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It also urged the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive repatriation and reintegration programme for Nigerian victims of human trafficking stranded in Mali and other West African countries.

The green chamber gave the warning following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Jesse Onuakalusi during plenary yesterday. 

Onuakalusi said the proposed legislation seeks to introduce constitutionally backed affirmative action by creating additional seats exclusively for women in the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly. He described it as a necessary step to correct long-standing gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political system.
 
The Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo I Federal Constituency in Lagos State noted that despite constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination, women remain grossly underrepresented in governance, occupying less than five per cent of elective positions nationwide.

“This persistent underrepresentation constitutes a fundamental democratic deficit and limits inclusivity in policy formulation,” he said.

The lawmaker cited countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, where quota systems and reserved seats have significantly improved women’s participation in governance.

The repatriation and reintegrationresolution in the House followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Tolulope Akande-Sadipe at the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.

In addition, the House called for a dedicated intervention fund in the 2027 budget to support the repatriation, rehabilitation and economic empowerment of trafficked Nigerians, particularly young women.

While moving the motion, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State decried the persistence of human trafficking from Nigeria to Mali and neighbouring countries, noting that victims were often subjected to sexual exploitation and forced labour.

According to her, the trafficking of adults has persisted for over a decade despite the efforts of the Federal Government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). “Traffickers of adults, having become aware of the risks, have now diverted their attention to children as young as 10 years old. Most alarming is that these children are often sold to brothels or organ harvesters,” he added.

She cited reports by humanitarian organisations, including the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN), which indicate that hundreds of Nigerian minors remain trapped in exploitative conditions across Mali and parts of West Africa.
 
Many of the victims, she pointed out, were either abducted or deceived with promises of legitimate jobs, only to be trafficked across porous borders and forced into abuse.
 
“The House is aware of the humanitarian collaboration between NACCRAN, NAPTIP, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Humanitarian Services and other partners, which recently led to the successful rescue and repatriation of several underage Nigerians from Mali. Many of these victims, who were internally displaced upon arrival in Nigeria, have since been reunited with their families through the efforts of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services.

“We recognise that effective repatriation and reintegration require a multi-agency approach involving medical and psychosocial support, vocational empowerment, and sustainable reintegration programmes to prevent re-trafficking; hence, the need to assess the effectiveness of ongoing repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes for rescued victims,” she stated.