WAR AGAINST HUMAN TRAFICCKING

WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE rebranding campaign, WHICH has chosen the theme “Good People, Great Nation”, Nigeria signified its determination TO change the world’s perception about US and project the abundant human and natural resources of the country. The initiative is against the background of the many years of negative perception about Nigeria as perpetrated by some bad eggs. One of such vices is the act of human trafficking. Human trafficking involves recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat of force, of abduction, as well as forced labour, within and outside Nigeria. Many young and promising Nigerians are taken away to strange lands where they are left in the hands of fate and the vagaries of life.
Many of such victims usually discover that their hopes and aspirations could not be met as they are subjected to diverse inhuman treatments. It was because of the need to combat this problem that the federal government in 2003 established the National Agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons, NAPTIP. The establishment of NAPTIP therefore came as a breath of fresh air when it commenced operations in August 2003. The agency now headed by MR Simon Chuzi Egede, an experienced Administrator and lawyer has adopted strategies to combat the menace of human trafficking. NAPTIP has therefore been receiving applause from various quarters including the United States. Also, in recognition of the agency’s giant strides, Finland has signed a funding agreement of over 171 million naira with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) to support NAPTIP. According to the Ambassador, of Finland, Miss Annelin Vourine, the donation was to enhance capacity of the agency to deliver its mandate.
In its seven years of existence the agency has secured eighty-five convictions of traffickers, while over eighty other cases are at various stages OF PROSECUTION. Over 700 victims of trafficking have also passed through NAPTIP’s shelters, while over 400 have been rehabilitated. No doubt, international collaboration from countries like Italy, France, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands and Britain has made a lot of difference. Similarly, organisations like USAID, UNICEF, ILO, and WOTCLEF as well as the Norwegian and Swiss governments have also identified with ITS achievement. The initiator of the Bill that established THE AGENCY , Mrs Titi Abubakar, wife of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Pioneer Executive Security of the Agency, Mrs. Carol Ndaguba are people whose efforts cannot be forgotten in a hurry. A report by UNICEF showed that in 2003, fifteen million children were engaged in child labour in NIGERIA with over eight million at risk of being trafficked abroad.
On the average ten children are trafficked daily through the nation’s borders. To address the problem seminars had been organised to sensitize the public on the dangers of trafficking. The agency has instituted the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund, to facilitate rehabilitation and re- integration of victims repatriated to the country. As NAPTIP prosecutes the war against trafficking there is the need to recall the pronouncement of the Supreme Court which held that fundamental rights are human rights which every one must enjoy. In this regard, Agencies saddled with the task of Poverty Alleviation such as National Poverty Eradication Programme, SMEDAN and the National Directorate of Employment must rise up to their responsibility as a way of curbing human trafficking.
It is worrisome that only 21 states in the country have domesticated the Child Right Act, thus promoting factors that encourage trafficking. This situation must be addressed.
There should be provision of basic education, health care, as well as skills acquisition centres to discourage trafficking. Also, there is the need for destination countries, especially THOSE IN Western Europe to criminalize the purchase of sex. Part of the intervention scheme of the MR Simon Egede led team is the strategic fact finding mission to Mali, which is the hub of trafficking in the sub region. The objective is to develop an effective counter strategy to curtail the incidence between both countries. This initiative will hopefully extend to other African countries in the near future. The fight against trafficking is one that every Nigeria must enlist in

Source: FRCN daily Commentary