Nigeria is set to launch a harmonised screening and reporting tools for the identification of human trafficking as part of activities to commemorate the World Day Against Human Trafficking.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Senator Basheer Mohammed, made this known at a press briefing ahead of the 2021 commemoration of the World Day Against Human Trafficking in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Director-General said that ”various measures are being adopted by the Nigerian government in her fight against human trafficking.”
According to him, the Agency is keen on utilising its key strategies to boost operations against the criminal act.
Senator Mohammed said; “NAPTIP has five key strategies to fight trafficking in the country. First, we implement policies to fight the crime of human trafficking, then we have Prevention where we embark on aggressive and serious sensitisation campaign to enlighten and educate the people on the ills of human trafficking.
“NAPTIP protects victims of human trafficking as well as prosecute trafficker. The last P of the five Ps of is partnership.”
On the recently released US 2021 Trafficking in Person, TIP report, Senator Mohammed noted that Nigeria has been upgraded to the Tier 2 list, a stratum for countries who have not completely eradicated trafficking but are making efforts to put an end to the act.
He stressed that the Agency was doing all it could to reach the minimum standards of the TVP Act in curbing human trafficking in the country.
“Nigeria has now been upgraded to the Tier 2 list in the just released US 2021 TIP Report.
“NAPTIP shall continue to work assiduously with all partners and stakeholders towards the fulfillment of the required minimum standards in the mitigation of human trafficking in the country,” Senator Mohammed explained.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Senator Basheer Mohammed, was represented at the event by Mr Hassan Attah.
A representative of the International Organisation on Migration, IOM, Ms Murima Prestage, stressed on continuous collaboration of the Organisation and other agencies with similar visions to build and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in its war against trafficking.
Ms Prestage said; “IOM and UNODC have been working with the federal government through NAPTIP to build and strengthen the capacity of both state and non-state to provide protection and support, using the victims and human right centered-approach but also to strengthen the criminal response to TIP in order to bring justice to vitims.”
She reiterated the support of IOM to NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking.
“We understand that victims are at the center of protection and support and that their experiences if not addressed, will affect their sustainable reintegration and therefore we call upon all our partners to hear the voices of victims and act upon them to bring justice and assist them in their reintegration to the communities,”‘ Ms Prestage stated.
NAPTIP has rescued over 17,000 victims of trafficking, trained and empowered them as well as jailed over 550 traffickers with many cases at various prosecution stages in Courts across the country.
The 30th of July is set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the World Day Against Human Trafficking and this year has the theme “Victims Voices Lead the Way.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
