The Federal Government has urged Commissioners for Women Affairs across Nigeria to use their positions to advocate for stronger policies and measures to combat human trafficking.
During the 27th National Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) on human trafficking in Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, called on the commissioners to push for budgets and programs that directly or indirectly address trafficking and exploitation. He also recommended establishing a dedicated budget line for state task forces on human trafficking to institutionalize their activities within states.
Fagbemi reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Justice to support the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) through ongoing policy formulation, legal reforms, and high-level advocacy.
“We will continue to work closely with NAPTIP and other partners to ensure that the legal and institutional frameworks for tackling trafficking remain dynamic, responsive, and effective. The fight against human trafficking is not just about statistics or targets; it’s about human dignity, freedom, justice, and national integrity,” he said.
Mr. Cheikh Toure, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), emphasized the need for all stakeholders to unite in the fight against human trafficking, underscoring the importance of translating policies into tangible outcomes through cooperation between federal, state, public, private, and global actors.
Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Egloff, highlighted the global and local impacts of human trafficking, noting its role in fueling exploitation and undermining national security. He reiterated Switzerland’s commitment to Nigeria through the “From Policy to Action” project, aimed at strengthening the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking 2022-2026.
Earlier, NAPTIP Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, thanked stakeholders for their support since her appointment in September 2024. She noted that their collaboration had led to significant progress, including gaining the commitment of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and securing legislative backing from the House of Representatives.
Adamu-Bello called for continued collective efforts to fight human trafficking, emphasizing that it remains a critical issue that must be minimized or eradicated. “As a society, we have a choice: to fight together or to become enablers through our silence,” she said.
(NAN)