From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stressed the need for a comprehensive, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Gabriel Odu, of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, she made the appeal during a strategic meeting with Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, held at NiDCOM Headquarters in Abuja.
While acknowledging progress in the fight against human trafficking, Dabiri-Erewa stressed that much more must be done to eradicate the menace. She urged that traffickers be publicly identified and subjected to stricter penalties to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Traffickers must be named and shamed. We need to enforce harsher penalties to send a clear message to these criminal actors that their activities will not be tolerated,” Dabiri-Erewa declared.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed that NAPTIP cannot tackle human trafficking alone. “There must be closer collaboration between NAPTIP, NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other sister agencies to effectively curb this menace,” she said.
She also advocated for more flexible policies and increased funding to empower NAPTIP to fully execute its mandate. She expressed gratitude for the support of key stakeholders, including the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), neighbouring governments, Nigerian diaspora communities, Wema Bank, and various NGOs, all of whom have contributed to rescuing and reintegrating trafficking victims.
“We will continue to do our best to save these young ones and encourage safe and regular pathways for migration,” Dabiri-Erewa pledged, commending the dedication of the NAPTIP Director-General.
In response, Bello thanked NiDCOM for its unwavering support, particularly in the recent rescue of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana. She agreed that combating human trafficking requires joint efforts from government, civil society, and all key stakeholders.
“We rescued last week 19 girls-all pregnant for one man-in an estate in Abuja. We also received nine girls from Côte d’Ivoire, along with many other heartbreaking cases,” Bello revealed, underscoring the urgency of raising awareness at all levels to highlight the dangers of trafficking.
Recognising NiDCOM’s critical role in engaging Nigerians in the diaspora, Bello reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening collaboration between NAPTIP and NiDCOM.
“Our Agency will continue to protect the rights and dignity of Nigerians against trafficking in persons,” she assured.
This meeting marks a renewed call for intensified, coordinated action to eradicate human trafficking, a crime that continues to devastate countless lives across Nigeria and beyond.