Nigeria’s bid to upscale the war against human slavery

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With Nigeria’s huge population, it is glaringly resesenetd on the scale of human trafficking incidents in the world, but ADEROGBA GEORGE, writes on why the efforts of the country needs to be heightened.

The 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of trafficking victims and promoting their rights and well-being.

Since then, countries worldwide, including Nigeria, have taken robust actions to commemorate the day.

According to the United Nations, the theme for the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking was “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”.

This theme calls for accelerated action to end child trafficking, recognising that children make up a significant proportion of trafficking victims globally, with girls being disproportionately affected.

A report produced by International Organisation for Migration, Internal Labour Organisation and Walk Free Foundation in 2022, estimated that 50 million people were victims of modern slavery in any given day in 2021.

The report said that out of the figure, an estimated 27.6 million people were in situations of forced labour while another 22 million people were in forced marriages.

Nigeria is responsible for a large chunk of that figure, accounting for an estimated 750,000-1,000,000 every year, according to United Nations Office for Drugs and Crimes.

Nigerians are trafficked both locally and abroad. Many house helps, and even married young women in Nigeria, are victims of human trafficking. They are exploited for various reasons, including forced labour and sexual exploitation.

The Federal Government has responded to this emergency.

On July 14 2003, through the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2003, it established the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to lead the charge against this modern day slavery.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, said over the years, the agency had initiated and implemented programmes and interventions to curb the trend of human trafficking within and from Nigeria.

She said that these efforts complemented the gender-inclusive counter-trafficking activities, with comprehensive stakeholders involvement.

Waziri-Azi said NAPTIP had carried out the task of tackling human trafficking through four-point strategies in priority areas.

They are: Enhanced Prosecution and Convictions of High-Profile Traffickers, Sustainable Evidence-Based Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Survivors.

Others are Enhanced Awareness and Sensitisation as well as Increased Visibility of the agency and its Partners, adding that the agency had not only met but had exceeded targets.

Waziri-Azi said that so far, NAPTIP had secured 677 convictions of human traffickers with 36 convictions and counting already in 2024.

“In March 2024, for the first time, a high-profile human trafficker was extradited to Italy to serve her 13 years jail term.

“This is a testament to the power of domestic and international cooperation ensuring that justice knows no boundaries.

“We secured our first mutual legal assistance conviction between Nigeria and Belgium involving a high-profile trafficker in 2023, in October of the same year.

“The trafficker was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment plus fine for the role she played in trafficking 12 victims to Belgium for forced prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation,’’ she said.

She said in January 2024, Nigeria secured a second mutual legal assistance conviction between Nigeria and Spain, involving yet another high-profile trafficker, among others

“NAPTIP has rescued and received over 24,000 victims of human trafficking and violence. Many of these survivors have been rehabilitated, empowered with life skills, and some have even been employed by the agency.

“Our rehabilitation programme has been remodeled to make survivors self-reliant through co-mentoring strategies,” she said.

The NAPTIP boss stated that the agency had scaled up its sensitization and awareness programmes especially at the community level, including the inauguration of anti-trafficking in persons and violence against persons vanguards in secondary schools nationwide.

She said that the agency’s visibility on social media has increased, engaging various societal segments and media partners.

Waziri-Azi said the recent partnership with International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), with the support from the Kingdom of Netherlands on the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education Advocacy Project (STEAP) for enhanced awareness creation in secondary schools would build on NAPTIP’s ongoing school efforts.

She said that the STEAP project would support the Government of Nigeria in preventing and combating trafficking in persons in Edo, Delta, Ogun, Benue and Enugu States and would focus on raising awareness amongst secondary school students.

Mr Josiah Emerole, Director of Intelligence, Research and Programme Development, NAPTIP at a town hall meeting said NAPTIP is the Federal Government was determined to reduce human trafficking to the barest minimum and mitigate its effects on victims.

Community engagement is strategic in success in the fight against social vices such as human trafficking and the authorities at NAPTIP acknowledge that.

Emerole said that town hall meeting was part of the strategy aimed at educating the society about government’s efforts and their role in the fight against human trafficking.

“The town hall meeting provides an opportunity for interaction between stakeholders and the general public to understand the issues, give a feedback and to create a new road map for subsequent actions.

“The exploitation of trafficked persons especially children is a crime unimaginable, robbing young lives of their innocence and potentials.

“As we engage in this conversation, your participation signifies hope, determination, and the power of society.

“Let us not only discuss, but resolve to take action on our resolutions in tackling this reprehensible crime of Human Trafficking.

“Every child that is saved is a triumph, and together, we can ensure that no child is left to suffer,” he said.

Stakeholders want more action.

Mr Ikape James Media Coalition and Awareness To Halt Trafficking at a recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja said more concerted effort was required to over the menace of human trafficking.

“People need to hear about these issues,” he said as he identifies public enlightenment as one area that deserves special attention.

Prof. Joy Ezeilo, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, wants early warning mechanisms to stop the pervasive and cross-border human trafficking.

“The current economic situation in Nigeria is fueling human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and unsafe migration, including the “Japa” syndrome.

“I strongly urge the government at all levels to implement urgent measures to address the root causes, particularly to reduce the vulnerabilities of young girls.

“Establishing early warning mechanisms is important to identify when girls disappear from school, fail to enrol in school, or live outside of family care,” said Ezeilo, the Executive Director, Women Aid Collective.

Early warning signals alone will not suffice and the Senior Advocate of Nigeria advances that: “we need to address unsuitable working environments that increase the vulnerability of women and children to trafficking.

To win the fight against human trafficking in the country, those tasked with the responsibility should engage the next gear. More efforts should be made towards removing the obstacles that frustrate the successful prosecution of human trafficking suspects.

The authorities should, as a matter of urgency, address root causes of human trafficking which includes social inequalities, unemployment and illiteracy.

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