NAPTIP, NIS Advocate Societal Collaboration To Tackle Trafficking In Persons And Smuggling Of Migrants In Nigeria

As part of the renewed determination to tackle the incidence of Trafficking In Persons  and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria, the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Muhammed Babandede, have jointly resolved to step up collaboration and synergy aimed at enhancing effectively fight against the menace.

This was part of the outcome of the Joint Stakeholders Dialogue on Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants held at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration. The programme was an interface between the two leading Agencies in the fight against Illegal migration and Trafficking In Persons on one hand and an array of partners and stakeholders on the other hand, purposely to redesign focus and re-strategize.

Speaking at the programme, the NAPTIP Director General acknowledged the support of sister Agencies, partners and other Stakeholders in the fight against Human Trafficking over the years and promised an improved working relationship with all.

She disclosed that Human Trafficking is a societal problem that involves the cross section of the public in one way or the other, hence the need for a renewed collaboration and synergy with the whole segment of the Society.

The NAPTIP boss said “we have the political will and we shall utilize it to confront this evil of human trafficking in Nigeria. Our renewed vision for the Agency include expansion and grassroots involvement that will yield positive result. We have labored and expended much in this fight, it is time to start seeing result in the areas of interception, arrest and prosecution of traffickers as well as rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking”, the NAPTIP DG said.

In his opening remarks, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, commended NAPTIP for the strategic relationship, building steps and engagements embarked upon since she resumed and promised that his Service will join hands with the Agency to stamp out Human Trafficking from Nigeria.

The well attended meeting featured goodwill messages from the United States Deputy Chief of Mission, Kathleen FitzGibbon, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Mr. Oliver Stolpe who spoke on behalf of United Nations Agencies, representatives of the Italian and Swiss Embassies in Nigeria as well as other Stakeholders. 

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as the Minister of Interior were also represented at the meeting.