The Federal Authorities say it’s addressing trafficking in individuals from the roots via its social funding programmes to scale back poverty.
It additionally named porous borders, poverty, lack of schooling and unemployment as components compounding the issue in combatting human trafficking.
The legal-general of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, stated this when he announced that the twenty-sixth Nationwide Stakeholders Consultative Discussion Board on Human Trafficking opened in Abuja on Monday.
“The porous nature of our borders and the subtle networks of those criminals additional compounds the problem of combating the menace.
“Nigeria has demonstrated its dedication not solely through the excessive variety of convictions but also through the profitable rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of victims alongside strategic preventive measures.
“President Bola Tinubu-led administration recognises that addressing poverty and underdevelopment is crucial in stopping human trafficking. Investing in individuals, particularly younger individuals and the deprived, reduces the desperation that drives people into exploitation overseas,” stated Fagbemi.
The AGF affirmed the federal government’s dedication to scaling its social funding programmes to offer livelihood help and deter potential victims from falling prey to traffickers.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that one company or arm of the presidency can’t shoulder the struggle in opposition to human trafficking. As a substitute, it calls for a collective effort involving civil society, the non-public sector, worldwide organisations, communities and individuals.
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Subsequently, “I solicit continued help from all stakeholders. Collectively, with a standard imaginative and prescient, to return win this struggle in opposition to human trafficking,” he charged listeners.”
On her half, the Director-Normal, Nationwide Company for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Individuals, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, stated there’s extra work to be performed via deepened partnership.
She stated, “Now, at present, gives us the collective alternative to deepen partnership; make sure that interventions and actions align with the Nationwide Motion Plan on Human trafficking; obtain and deliberate on reviews from all stakeholders throughout the varied sectors on the nationwide and sub-national ranges; current the 2024/2025 nationwide outlook for counter-trafficking initiatives in Nigeria together with the presidential priorities; and share the idea of the logical framework for the Implementation of the Nationwide Motion Plan for efficient reporting of counter-trafficking actions in Nigeria.”
Enumerating NAPTIP’s achievements previously 12 months—together with the extradition of a high-profile human trafficker to Italy to serve her 13-year jail period—the. DG declared, “Regardless of our progress, human trafficking remains an ongoing risk, and we hope to proceed to work with all our companions and stakeholders to design inventive options for methods to grasp higher and deal with human trafficking.”
She thanked the Swiss and Dutch governments via the United Nations Workplace on Medication and Crime for his or her unwavering help, acknowledging NAPTIP’s companions, such as the Worldwide Centre for Migration Coverage Improvement, Experience France, the Worldwide Organisation for Migration, and the Workplace of the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Consultant of the UNODC, Danilo Campisi, urged members to use the discussion board to reaffirm their collective resolve to go away with no stone unturned in the struggle against human trafficking.
“Allow us to seize this chance to redouble our efforts, strengthen our partnerships, and mobilize assets to guard essentially the most susceptible amongst us and make sure that perpetrators are dropped at justice,” Campisi appealed.
The discussion board additionally acquired goodwill messages from the Swiss and Dutch Ambassadors and different chosen growth companions and stakeholders.
Additionally, the Commissioners of Justice and Girls Affairs from the 36 states of the Federation were in attendance.
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