Federal Government includes ALGON in anti-human trafficking war

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced the inclusion of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in its new strategy to end human trafficking at the grassroots level.

Its Director-General, Binta Bello, announced yesterday at a ‘Policy Meeting on Human Trafficking in Nigeria’ in Abuja.

She noted that the crime festers at the grassroots, hence the need to directly involve the council areas in tackling the scourge.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, observed that the relentless trafficking in persons necessitates constant reviewing of strategies.

He called for the strengthening of partnerships with law enforcement agencies to curb the menace.

Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cheike Toure, acknowledged that Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP), launched in 2022, had made significant strides, including the development and refinement of the policy’s reporting framework and harmonised data collection tools.

Represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Danilo Campisi, he stated that data were critical to counter-trafficking efforts

Speaking on some of the drivers of trafficking in persons and the link between corruption and gender, Labour Attaché, United States Embassy, Mike Berentson, stressed the need to move from policy to action.