…as NAPTIP Stakeholders Review National Action Plan
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, has restated its commitment to eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking during the 27th National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum (NSCF) on Human Trafficking in Abuja, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the forum offers a strategic opportunity to reassess Nigeria’s counter-trafficking response, especially in the context of the midterm review of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Trafficking (2022–2026).
Fagbemi, who lauded NAPTIP’s efforts, noted that human trafficking remains the third most lucrative criminal enterprise globally and has evolved into a complex web intertwined with terrorism, cybercrime, and money laundering.
He also warned that traffickers are increasingly using technology to lure and exploit victims, calling for stronger cybercrime detection and tech-driven responses.
He said, “This review goes beyond a routine administrative process. It is a call to action, a moment for reflection, and a strategic opportunity to refine and enhance our efforts,” he said.
On her part, Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, said the Agency had recorded notable strides in the implementation of the National Action Plan, particularly in policy reform, victim protection, and legal prosecution.
According to her, the Agency secured 205 convictions between 2022 and 2024, rescued over 7,000 victims within the same period, and inaugurated over 208 Anti-TIP and VAPP vanguards across Nigerian schools.
She added that NAPTIP had also developed digital tools in collaboration with UNODC and the Swiss government to enhance data collection and reporting.
Other recent milestones, she said, include the reactivation of the GBV data platform, setting up a digital centre in Katsina with NITDA’s support, refurbishing its Lagos Zonal Command, and attracting multiple donor-funded projects from the EU, Netherlands, and ECOWAS.
While urging stakeholders to intensify collaboration, scale up public enlightenment, and prioritise victim-centred interventions, she said, “We must fight together or become enablers through our silence”.
Also speaking, the UNODC Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré, described the forum as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national response, where policy meets practice and federal and state actors unite around a shared vision: a Nigeria free from trafficking.
Touré praised NAPTIP’s strategic leadership and acknowledged the Government of Switzerland for supporting the From Policy to Action project, which he said is focused on decentralising the anti-trafficking response and delivering real impact at the grassroots level.
Touré further emphasised the need for improved stakeholder coordination, stronger data systems, inclusive strategies, and survivor-led approaches to make meaningful progress.
He said, “State Task Forces are the heartbeat of this effort—raising awareness, rallying communities, and driving local ownership. Policy means nothing without you turning it into action.
“Human trafficking isn’t just a crime—it’s an assault on dignity, a drag on development, and a threat to security. We need a united front: multi-sectoral, victim-focused, relentless,” he added.
In his remarks, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff, said human trafficking fuels exploitation, undermines security, and devastates lives—especially those of women and children.
He stressed that the repercussions are not limited to Nigeria but extend to countries like Switzerland, reinforcing the need for stronger international cooperation.
He said Switzerland remains a committed, long-term partner to Nigeria in promoting a rights-based, gender-sensitive, and coordinated approach to tackling trafficking.
Through its support to the From Policy to Action project, Egloff said Switzerland had worked closely with NAPTIP and UNODC to strengthen implementation of the NAP 2022–2026.
Also speaking, Human Trafficking Programmes Officer, ECOWAS, Olatunde Olayemi said the regional bloc had supported Nigeria from the onset, including the establishment of its National Taskforce and the development and approval of its first National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons.
He said ECOWAS had also supported the reintegration and protection of trafficking victims in Nigeria through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a contribution of about $35,000.
The event, jointly convened by NAPTIP and UNODC, and supported by the Swiss Government, also featured calls for the establishment of State Task Forces in the remaining 12 states and the FCT to ensure subnational coordination in the anti-trafficking campaign.
