Federal Government has called for effective collaboration amongst relevant stakeholders to curb human trafficking and other vices in the Country.
The Director General National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi made the call at a news conference in Abuja.
According to her, over fifty million people still live in modern Slavery globally with 1.6 million living in Nigeria hence the need for synergy between stakeholders to help overcome the menace.
Professor Fatima Azi added that the organisation would not rest on its oars to ensure culprits perpetrating these criminal activities are brought to book.
In her words “It has been 20 years of growth, and reinvention for NAPTIP in tremendous ways, in terms of scaling our efforts and expansion reach, operations, collaborations and partnerships. And we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we have as a country without concerted efforts of everyone including the media”.
Professor Fatima Azii stressed further, “For anyone that have followed the NAPTIP story since inception, has seen the agency progressed from its very first command in Benin -Edo State, offices in 32 States, and the last 7 offices acquired in the past year and a half.
Recently the 2023 Global Slavery Index opined that globally, it is estimated that 50 million people were living in modern slavery, an increase of 10 million people since 2016. What this narrative indicates is the urgent need for a more strategic and deliberate global response to these problems’.
She added that, “But one thing I can say though is that Nigeria is better poised to control and tackle human trafficking due to the collaborative efforts of everyone. The public is better informed about issues of human trafficking, and this is due to the amplified visibility of NAPTIP. Nigerians have become their brother’s keeper, looking out for one another and this has increased reportage of issues”.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo who was represented by Mr. Ali Germa commended the Agency for the various steps taken so far in addressing the menace of human trafficking in the country.
He acknowledged that partnership with other relevant stakeholders,
including the launch of the Amber Alert on Facebook and Instagram in September 2022, further enhanced the capacity of NAPTIP in tackling issues of online child exploitation, child sexual materials, assaults and extortion.
In his words “As we continue to collaborate with international partners to fight transborder-human trafficking and in commemoration of the upcoming 2023 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we call on stakeholders to join hands with NAPTIP to ensure that perpetrators are exposed, arrested, and prosecuted because it is our collective responsibility”.
The Permanent Secretary further urged State Governments to put in all efforts towards ending this scourge.
Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji
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