By: Okey Muogbo
Non-governmental organisations in Nigeria have called on the Faederal Government to appoint at least 2 of their members into the board of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) as required by the Act setting up the Agency.
The National President of Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Mr Abdulganiyu Abubakar made the call in Abuja on Monday at a Press Conference marking the 15th edition of the European Union (EU) Anti Trafficking Day.
Said he, “we would like remind the government that the statutory mandate that at least two CSOs be members of the NAPTIP Board be revisited to allow for across board collaboration as expected in the management of partnershipintrafficking ordinance.
“We believe that if this is done, it gives more impetus to the management of TIP in Nigeria. Added to that, NACTAL solicits for more concerted coordination of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria.
“This step will help in the area of monitoring and evaluation of activities and interventions to validate the funding and impact assessment.
“When handled rightly, NACTAL can act as coordinating body based on her membership strength and grassroots base around the country.”
On the magnitude of the crisis of trafficking in persons around the world, Mr Abubakar said that data released by EU in 2020 on trafficking showed that 26,268 victims were trafficked in the EU-28 member states.
“The Report”, he went on, “states that over 60 percent of the registered victims were trafficked for sexual and fifteen percent were trafficked for labour exploitation while between 2015-2016, the top five non-EU countries were: Nigeria (2,094), Albania (1, 397), Vietnam (1,099)” and commended both the Nigerian government and the EU for their fights to eliminate trafficking in persons.
Abubakar also commended the Federal Government for heeding the call by CSOs for the appointment of an active member of the CSOs as the chief executive officer of NAPTIP.
