Follow Us on Google
The United States Consulate yesterday handed over the Countering Human Trafficking Office Lagos State government.
The Consul General of the Consulate Will Stevens told guests at the event that the initiative represents a significant step forward in U.S. and Nigeria’s collective efforts to combat one of the most egregious violations of human rights: human trafficking.
He expressed extend gratitude to all the partners that contributed to the success of the project: the Lagos State government, specifically the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) for its commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for its citizens; the Kingdom of Netherlands for their unwavering commitment to this cause and our continuing international partnership and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), that was the implementers of “this crucial” project. According to Stevens, UNODC’s expertise, dedication, and tireless efforts have been pivotal in bringing this vision to life.
The fight against human trafficking demands a coordinated approach, and the establishment of this office is a critical milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice response to trafficking in persons and demonstrates the importance of local authorities in this effort. It serves as a beacon of hope for victims and a symbol of our collective determination to eradicate this heinous crime.
The Consul General disclosed that between 2021 and 2023, the U.S. government through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs provided $1.3 million to UNODC to support the Nigerian government’s efforts to protect those vulnerable to trafficking.
“By consolidating our resources and expertise, we aim to create a robust framework that will not only address the needs of current victims, but also work towards prevention of future trafficking,” he said.
He explained that the U.S. government understands the importance of a comprehensive response to human trafficking. “That is why in addition to projects like this, which build the physical infrastructure, we have invested in the training of first responders as well as the reintegration of victims of trafficking.”
According to him, in 2023, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. government trained 160 civilian law enforcement officers to respond to cases of human trafficking and counseled more than 100 civil society organizations on how to identify and refer potential victims of trafficking.
“Through our Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program, 20 victims of trafficking and other returned migrants received specialized business management training and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, giving them the needed economic and social support to reintegrate into their communities.”
Stevens called on U.S. partners to renew their commitment to collaboration, information sharing, and continuous improvement noting that the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report from the U.S. State Department underscores the evolving tactics employed by traffickers in Nigeria, such as cyber scam operations involving deceptive job postings and fraudulent dating websites to entice unsuspecting victims.
“But I’m assured with continued partnerships like these we can face these new tactics with innovative solutions.”
