NAPTIP seeks more synergy with partners in fight against human trafficking
By Aderogba George
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has commended all its partners in the fight against human trafficking, saying their collaboration is yielding positive results.
The Director-General (D-G) of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi who also called for more synergy, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at an International conference on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (TIPSOM).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation of the conference was supported by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP).
FIIAPP is the promoter of Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (A-TIPSOM), a project which is funded by the European Union (EU).
Waziri-Azi, represented by the agency’s Director of Legal and Prosecution, Mr Hassan Tahir, stated that collaboration with partners had made NAPTIP to achieved great feat in the areas of rescue and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking.
She said that the agency had been able to rescue and rehabilitate 21,181 victims in the last 20 years, saying NAPTIP had also secured the prosecution and conviction of 639 human traffickers.
“Last year (2022), the agency secured 80 convictions, the highest number of conviction since its inception, and in 2023, we have already secured 65 convictions.
“These figures include the conviction of a high-profile trafficker who trafficked 12 girls to Belgium, and the conviction of a complicit government official engaged in facilitating foreign travels which promotes prostitution.
“We have also secured the conviction of a Lebanese who would be deported after serving his jail term.
“I believe all these achievements recorded by the agency would not have been possible without ‘building bridges, strengthening partnership for a coordinated TIPSOM response and effective collaboration’,” she said.
The D-G expressed her deepest appreciation to FIIAPP for making the conference possible, and also extended her appreciation to EU, EUROPOL, EUROJUST, FRONTEX, and other civil society organisations.
A-TIPSOM team leader, Mr Federico Millan, also appreciated NAPTIP for all it had done for FIIAPP, saying that the agency had made possible the mission of the foundation in Nigeria.
He pledged the readiness of the foundation to continue to work with NAPTIP to kill human trafficking in Nigeria.
EU programme Officer on Migration, Organised Crime and Drugs, Mr Ron Hendrix, also appreciated all partners in the fight against human trafficking and irregular migration.
He stated that a profound policy is needed as a framework for which stakeholders can work, adding that EU is proposing a regulation to reinforce the activities of partners in the fight against trafficking and irregular migration.
According to him, improved information sharing will also assist partners in their effective fight against trafficking and irregular migration.
He called for greater partnership among partners, adding that the EU alone cannot tackle TIPSOM.
“EU is happy to support A-TIPSOM. We are happy with its effort and passion towards curbing human trafficking. We are also happy to work together with the Nigerian government and we will continue to do that,” Hendrix said.
The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, also stated that the objective of reducing TIPSOM at the national and regional levels, with specific focus on women and children, aligned with the broader goal of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Represented by Mr Mark Imafido, a Personal Assistant to the Minister, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are complex crimes that transcend the borders.
She said to effectively mitigate against these crimes, comprehensive and collaborative approaches are required from all partners and stakeholders.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, also said that the A-TIPSOM project had been instrumental in fortifying the capabilities of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
Represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP. Emmanuel Onah, the IGP said that A-TIPSOM had been instrumental through its unwavering support as enshrined in it’s five components of policy and institutional strengthening.
He listed the components as prevention and awareness raising, protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers and smugglers and the facilitation of partnerships and coordination.
Egbetokun called on FIIAPP, the promoter of A-TIPSOM project in Nigeria, to continue to do its good work. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vincent Obi
Published By
- Senior Editor
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