The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called on the Federal Government to take decisive action by declaring a full-scale war against human trafficking in Nigeria.
She made the appeal during a strategic meeting with the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, held at the NiDCOM headquarters in Abuja.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response to address what she described as a deeply entrenched criminal enterprise.
While acknowledging progress made, she insisted that traffickers must be named, shamed, and subjected to stricter legal penalties to deter others.
“There are many people that have been arrested. All we just call for is that these people, we should see them, name and shame them, the way they do drug traffickers. It’s a very dangerous field”.
“You know, traffickers are not, they’re a serious cartel. And for NAPTIP to deal with it, they need all the support, a whole lot of support that you’re getting. And I believe that NAPTIP, just like NIDCOM, deserves to be better funded. You know, we must declare a war against human trafficking. We have to declare this war against human trafficking. And I’m glad about the multi-agency collaboration”.
She further stressed that NAPTIP cannot work in isolation, urging for stronger collaboration with sister agencies such as the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and NiDCOM itself, to tackle the menace more effectively.
The NiDCOM boss also advocated for more flexible policies and increased funding to support NAPTIP’s mandate in combating trafficking and aiding the rehabilitation of victims.
“NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Refugee Commission, Humanitarian Affairs, even Women’s Affairs Ministry, even youth needs to join us in this fight. Every time, this is the process, like as I speak to you, there are 10 trafficked girls that have just been taken to our office in Lagos. They’re currently in NAPTIP profile”.
She acknowledged the vital roles played by wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nigerian diaspora communities, Wema Bank, and several NGOs in supporting rescue and reintegration efforts.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa applauded the commitment of the NAPTIP Director-General, pledging NiDCOM’s continued partnership in promoting safer migration pathways and preventing exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians.
In a remarks, Hajia Binta Bello expressed appreciation for NiDCOM’s support, particularly in the recent rescue of 231 Nigerian youths from Ghana.
“when I assume office that trafficking in person is not just within Nigeria, it is transnational. And your office is directly, directly dealing with the communities in the diaspora. And I feel that there is no better agency to reach out to than your commission”.
“So I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate you for the good work you have been doing, for the reach out you have been bringing to the diaspora. You have made the Nigerians that are living in diaspora to feel belonged, to have a sense of belonging that they are Nigerians”.
She said the war against human trafficking can only be won through collective efforts involving government institutions, civil society, and international partners.
“Some four weeks ago, you put a call across to me and informed me of some victims coming from Ghana, which we received at Lagos. And through your commitment and partnership, these girls were received and treated the way they should be treated in Lagos and reunited with their families. So I want that partnership to continue so that we’ll be able to work together and reduce to a minimum, we cannot eradicate it, it’s not possible to eradicate it at a go, but we can reduce it to a minimum, the transnational trafficking of in persons”.
The NAPTIP DG also raised alarm over disturbing cases, including the rescue of 19 pregnant girls in Abuja and the repatriation of nine others from Côte d’Ivoire. She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of victims, while strengthening its partnership with NiDCOM to engage the Nigerian diaspora in curbing human trafficking.
