EU reiterates commitment to fight human trafficking in Nigeria – Official
By Aderogba George
The European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to fight Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling
of Migrants (TIPSOM) in Nigeria.
Mr Ron Hendrix, the EU Programme Officer in charge of Migration, Organised Crime and Drug, made this known at a conference on TIPSOM in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), supported by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP).
NAN also reports that FIIAPP is the promoter of Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (TIPSOM) in Nigeria.
Hendrix said EU would provide support through a dedicated programme in collaboration with the UN Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) and FIIAPP to launch a programme in the early part of 2024 to check trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to strengthen efforts toward prevention and enhance response to counter migrant smuggling and address alternatives to irregular migration.
The EU programme officer, who listed policy, prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership as the Union’s guiding framework, urged members and stakeholders in the fight against trafficking to continue in that direction.
He said: “I would like to pick two of these guiding framework, namely Policy, a profound policy is needed to ensure basis and framework from which all stakeholders can work.
“That framework has to be adapted when things change. In this regard, the European Commission recently proposed to upgrade its legislative framework, by laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the EU with specific objective”.
He disclosed that the European Commission is proposing a regulation to reinforce Europols’ role and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Hendrix said that to do this, European Commission will strengthen coordination at EU level, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, improve information sharing, reinforce resources and stronger Europol support through staff deployment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
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