The Federal Government of Nigeria has again demonstrated unwavering commitment to tackle issues of human trafficking in the country as the Federal Executive Council, Presided by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, approved the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022 – 2026).
This comes following a Memorandum submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.
This was revealed in a statement issued and made available to journalists by the spokesperson of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
On the development, Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri – Azi, noted that it was a major policy direction to enhance the fight against human trafficking and guide interventions for the next five years, 2022 – 2026.
Dr Waziri-Azi explained that the document was a reflection of Nigeria’s commitment to the policies of the United Nation Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, UNTOC.
“National Action Plan is a national policy document that further demonstrates Nigeria Government commitment to its international obligation under the UNTOC as it also incorporates various emerging trends, and establishes a robust coordination, implementation and evaluation mechanism.”
The NAPTIP boss expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Federal Executive Council for the approval granted the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria.
The NAPTIP Director General also thanked the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq for her sustained support to the Agency, other partners who worked tirelessly to make the National Action Plan a reality and the Government of Switzerland who funded the development of the National Action Plan with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, UNODC.
National Action Plan
The newly approved National Action Plan provides the national blueprint for coordination of anti-trafficking interventions in Nigeria. It also ensures greater efficiency in the utilization of intervention funds from all stakeholders, align strategic anti-trafficking actions in Nigeria with international standards and strengthen coordination, implementation and evaluation mechanisms for anti-human trafficking actions in Nigeria.
The National Action Plan is also designed to foster collaboration among stakeholders for greater effectiveness and efficacy in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and to set year on year bench-marks for stakeholders’ implementation and provide a basis for evaluation of the level and success of implemented activities.
The approval of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking is a major breakthrough in the efforts of NAPTIP and its supervising Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in curtailing incidences of human trafficking in the country and also a commendable determination by Government in addressing the global phenomenon.
Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, UNTOC and its Supplementing Protocol to suppress, Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000).
Further to the establishment of NAPTIP as the institutional response to trafficking in Persons, Nigeria adopted a multi-sectoral response and all-inclusive approach, to strengthen the policy framework and response to Human Trafficking by developing its first National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2009 – 2012).
Emmanuel Ukoh
