U.S. advance efforts to combat human trafficking in Nigeria

The United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime have sought for ways to improve the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases in Nigeria.

The Nigerian judicial officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials in a two day retreat discussed admissibility of electronic evidence in human trafficking cases under Nigerian law.  

According to United States Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, the retreat held in Lagos was funded by the United States as a rule of law project introduced in 2018 titled “Strengthen the Capacities of State and Non-State Institutions to Assist, Support and Protect Victims of Trafficking (VOT) in Nigeria.”

“We are proud of our continued partnership with the Government of Nigeria with its continued efforts to build upon its successes in ensuring trafficking of persons and smuggling of migrant cases are prosecuted effectively and fairly and those convicted receive the appropriate penalties,” Consul General Pierangelo said.

She explained that under this project, the U.S. government in partnership with the UNODC Nigeria, has been providing support to the Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP and Nigeria Immigration Service, as well as civil society groups in different thematic areas of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

“The project has recorded some remarkable achievements such as the establishment of a judiciary resource center at NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja that provides officers access to relevant tools and resources when investigating and prosecuting trafficking in persons cases,” she added.