From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), with support from USAID Nigeria SCALE and Palladium, has held her fourth Coordination Meeting to strengthen collaborative strategies towards Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP).
The two day meeting which held, February 12, 2024, in Abuja, had representatives drawn from National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons, (NCFRMI), Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, (ETAHT), Innovation for Poverty Actions, (IPA), the media, Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), MDAs, NACTAL staff and representatives of the Palladium SCALE.
Welcoming participants to the meeting, the National President of NACTAL, Abdulganiyu Abubakar, appreciated the stakeholders for their inputs so far in the fight against trafficking saying the essence of the fourth edition meeting was to intensify alliance building, promote collaboration, and instigate experience and information sharing among state and non-state actors towards combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (TIPSOM) in Nigeria.
Abubakar noted that the collaboration was necessary as no one or organization can do it alone adding that the meeting was an opportunity for all stakeholders to work together, review what was done, see what needs to be done using their platforms.
He said the previous meetings have helped in shaping the activities and action plans and urged participants to contribute positively.
A representative of NAPTIP, Mrs Roseline Abare, an Assistant Director of Intelligence, said the stakeholders CTIP meeting is key to facilitating information sharing, promote collaboration and identity the gaps which may have occurred since the last meeting.
Abare described trafficking as second largest crime in the world, affecting the most vulnerable in the society being women and girls.
She said “Trafficking is a crime that is ravaging the world presently, depleting manpower and consuming our finances as much as funds are being used to curb this menace.”
She expressed worry that the menace will continue to eat deep into the society unless something is done to counter it.
Mrs Abare commended the organizer and urged participants to key into the program and implement the knowledge acquired.
Speaking on “Use of National Reporting Tools and other channels of Reporting” Doris Mbanefo of NAPTIP urged members of the public to report to the appropriate agencies using appropriate hotlines and helplines, 267 code, free toll lines,07030000203 and social media platforms of the agency.
Also speaking, the Technical Advisor, USAID Nigeria SCALE, Eric Umoru updated participants on SCALE CTIP interventions and charge them to utilize the forum to discuss, address and proffer collaborative strategies, way forward and recommendations for Countering Trafficking in Persons.
The meeting has a theme, “Improving Coordination and Implementation Capacity of LEAs and CSOs on CTIP in Nigeria.”
The forum availed the participating organisations/agencies the opportunity to share updates on their TIP responses, innovations, trends, challenges, learnings and suggestions for countering TIPSOM.