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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has disclosed that about 1.6 million Nigerians are victims of modern slavery.
NAPTIP Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri Azi, revealed this at a press on activities lined up to mark the 20 years anniversary of the agency recently in Abuja.
According to Azi, the 2023 global slavery index estimates show that 50 million people were living in modern slavery,
“For anyone that has followed the NAPTIP story since its inception has visibly seen the agency progress from its very first command in Benin, Edo State to offices in 32 states, the last seven offices acquired in the past year and a half.
“In 20 years, we have seen the crime of human trafficking spread like wildfire in terms of the enormity, trends and patterns. It has not been an easy fight to dismantle these networks, but we remain undaunted.
“Only recently did the 2023 Global Slavery Index opine that globally, it is estimated that 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any day in 3021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016.
“What this narrative indicates is the urgent need for a more strategic and deliberate global response to these problems.
“Nigeria is better poised to control and tackle human trafficking due to the collaborative efforts of everyone. The public is better informed about issues of human trafficking, and this is due to the amplified visibility of NAPTIP.
“Nigerians have become their brother’s keeper, looking out for one another and this has increased reportage of issues of human trafficking and violence against persons (domestic and sexual violence),” she said.
Also, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said the ministry had staged awareness campaigns and sensitization to educate people on human trafficking.
Represented by the Director Humanitarian Affairs, Grema Ali, he said: “Knowing that issues of human trafficking happen mostly at the sub-national level, NAPTIP has inaugurated the Task Force against Human Trafficking in 22 states.
“These task forces have over the years amplified the fight against human trafficking and enhanced collaboration with NAPTIP at the state level.
“Other recent and exciting collaborations NAPTIP has forged is the strategic partnership with Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and with the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
“These partnerships have further enhanced the capacity of NAPTIP to tackle issues of online child exploitation, child sexual assault materials and sextortion including the launch of the amber alert on Facebook and Instagram in September 2022, placing Nigeria as the second country in Africa and the 29th in the world with an amber alert on Facebook and Instagram.”
