The Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to combat human trafficking received a significant boost as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) announced a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs for the long-term rehabilitation of trafficking victims.
This collaboration will specifically focus on rehabilitating ten Nigerian girls recently rescued from human trafficking in Ghana.
The partnership was one of the key outcomes of a visit by the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, to NAPTIP’s headquarters on Monday. This visit followed viral reports about the trafficking of Nigerian girls to Ghana for sexual exploitation.
After the meeting, NAPTIP’s Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, expressed gratitude to the Minister for her visit and support. She highlighted NAPTIP’s proactive, strategic, and deliberate efforts in combating human trafficking, noting that the agency had secured the conviction of 29 traffickers so far in 2024, 67 in 2023, 80 in 2022, and a total of 670 since the agency’s inception. Additionally, NAPTIP has rescued over 23,000 victims.
Prof. Waziri-Azi stated, “While the government plays a major role in tackling human trafficking, communities and families have an even greater role. Concerning the girls in Ghana, we are coordinating with the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The girls have been rescued and are safe. The perpetrator has been arrested, and I am also in contact with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).”
She continued, “I am very pleased with the Honourable Minister’s visit this morning. From our discussions, we will take a more strategic approach, particularly focusing on prevention. Prevention is better than cure.”
Prof. Waziri-Azi also emphasized the importance of vigilance, urging parents and young people to be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true, as they may lead to exploitation. “Everyone desires a better life, but it’s crucial to be discerning and cautious,” she said.
