……............BOOTCAMP FOR STATE TASK FORCES BERTHS IN LAGOS


BY

AKINBOBOLA MOBISAYO

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, LAGOS REGION


The fight against Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration in Nigeria is gradually gaining accelerated momentum as the Federal Government through the Honourable Minister of State, Budget& National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, has again reiterated the clear commitment to increased efforts and collaboration with relevant partners including the European Union to enhance the eradication of human trafficking by providing financial and material resources to curb the menace.

This development came just as the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Dr. Fatima Waziri - Azi, called for accurate and verifiable data that will depict the scope, dimension, and reality of various forms of trafficking peculiar in each State of the Federation in order to formulate appropriate intervention.

The Minister spoke at the ongoing second batch of the Boot Camp peer review meeting organized for members of the State Task Forces on Against Human Trafficking from 12 States of  Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Enugu, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Borno, and Jigawa.

The Bootcamp which has continued to receive commendation from a cross-section of State and Non -State Actors due to its impacts on the counter-trafficking efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria and NAPTIP in particular, was organized through the combined efforts of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Expertise France and FIIAPP with funding from the European Union, Netherlands Government, Switzerland and the United Nations Human Rights.

Represented by Mr. Jude Ebhohimen, Project Officer (Migration) Unit, the Minister said “ the Ministry as the coordinating Unit for donor-funded programmes in Nigeria, we will double our efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the projects for the benefit of all Nigerians”.

In her speech, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri - Azi, enumerated the efforts of the Agency in combating human trafficking, including setting up the State Task Forces on Human Trafficking in 21 States the latest being the Taraba Task Force.

Represented by the Director, Research and Programme Development (RPD), Mr. Olusayo Olubiyi, Dr. Fatima Waziri - Azi, said “ It is, therefore, an undisputable fact that what we have in our hands is a national crisis, which is why a forum like this becomes imperative for in-depth interactions among state and non-state actors on what works and areas that require improvement in line with the sub-objective 5.1.2 of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022-2026).

“It will interest you to know that in the area of enforcement and victims’ protection, NAPTIP, as the focal Agency empowered to prosecute all forms of human trafficking in Nigeria, has enjoyed intelligence sharing and other supportive actions which account for some key milestones recorded in the area of prosecution. So far the Agency has recorded a total of 531 Convictions (37 for 2022 and counting), arrested 8,470 suspects (including 571 between January 2022 and date) and rescued 18,617 victims (1,675 from January till date). 

“After the inauguration of the States Taskforces on human trafficking in 22 States, the latest being the Taraba State Taskforce, in collaboration with its key partners, NAPTIP thought it needful to go deeper rather than wider; to take stock of the impact of the Taskforces at the subnational levels, especially in the endemic communities. From the analyses so far, some States have achieved tremendous strides, especially in the area of awareness creation, identification, rescue, referral and rehabilitation of trafficked persons


“You are aware that the establishment of the State Task Force on Human Trafficking is based on the philosophy of attaining enhanced State and non-state multi-sectoral responses toward curbing Human Trafficking in Nigeria; and this is broadly aimed at strengthening prevention and coordinated responses for trafficked victims in Nigeria through capacity building, technical assistance, and institutional development”, the Director General stated.

In her speech, the Team Leader, United Nations Office on drugs and Crime (UNODC), Trafficking in Persons/Smuggling of Migrants Portfolio, Abimbola Olayemi Adewumi, identified increased globalization and technology as one of the fueling factors of human trafficking which climaxed during the advent of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

 She stated that “The 2020 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, reported that the use of the internet has been integrated into the business model of traffickers and it facilitates the luring of victims into sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced criminality, and other purposes. The internet has helped traffickers to amplify their impact by operating online in multiple locations, whilst physically exploiting victims in a single location.

“The expanded global usage of technology which was intensified by the COVID – 19 pandemics, presented both challenges and opportunities to the world including Nigeria. Amongst them is the use of technology in the crime of human trafficking, frequently misused to facilitate trafficking, control victims, advertise services and hide criminal proceeds. 

 “NAPTIP 2021 data indicates that cases of suspected human trafficking are being reported across all Nigerian States. Moreover, our most recent data indicates that most of the victims detected in West Africa were children (27% boys and 32% girls) and were being trafficked to work on plantations, in mines and quarries, or as street vendors. Traffickers target victims from poor households, dysfunctional families, or those who have been abandoned.

“Most of these victims, their families, and communities can only be reached through communication channels at the grassroots. Mobilizing the states, local governments, and eventually, communities is key. You, members of the State Task Forces are the first and most essential link in the chain in translating the Federal Government’s policies into practical outcomes on the ground. 

“Over the next five days, we hope to learn from you as much as you learn from our colleagues in NAPTIP as well as from the expert staff in the other partner organizations supporting the conduct of this boot camp. Together we hope to develop a compendium of promising practices to help State Task Forces in developing and effectively implementing their own strategies to prevent and counter human trafficking”, She said.

Head, Lagos Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Victor Lutenco reeled out the various interventions of the Organization in prevention, assistance to voluntary returnees as well as empowerment of the victims. He assured participants of the support of IOM in the all-around counter-trafficking programmes in the Country.

Speaking also, Project Manager of Expertise France, Mr. Benjamin Eneaya said. “ The need to establish State Task Forces on Human Trafficking was due to the increasing human trafficking activities at the grass root as victims of human trafficking are mostly recruited at the State and rural communities. Therefore, the need to enhance State and non- State multi-sectoral response toward combating Human Trafficking in Nigeria. 


“The State Taskforces on human trafficking provided an enhanced cooperation platform among state and non-state actors to tackle the growing issue of human trafficking through preventive, coordinated legal, and protection services to victims of human trafficking in Nigeria. 


“This unique strategy of instituting State Taskforces ensured a “whole of Government and whole of society” approach in crime management thus galvanizing resources at all fronts – Federal and State government, Civil Society Organisations, Faith Based Organisations, and support from International Development Partners”, the Expertise France Project Manager said.

In his goodwill message, the representative of the Team Leader of FIIAPP, Mr. Bello Omotoso, said the idea of the Bootcamp is to increase the productivity and effectiveness of the Task Forces in line with their Term of Reference.


While thanking the European Union and other donors for funding the project, Mr. Omotoso assured that FIIAPP which implements the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (A-TIPSOM), will continue to collaborate and synergize with all partners and Agencies in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria. 

National President of the NACTAL, Mr. Abdulganiyu Abubakar also gave a goodwill message at the programme. 

Participants in the programme include Oba Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale, Ogun State, Sister Law Enforcement Agencies, line MDAs, and members of the Civil society organizations (CSO).