By Ngozi Nwankwo
Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons,NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello,has assured European Union Member States that the Federal Government of Nigeria through NAPTIP, shall continue to double its efforts, strategies, and policy implementation in line with the priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration to tackle all forms of human trafficking in the Country.
Bello stated this today while speaking at the European Union (EU) Member States’ Immigration Liaison Officers (ILOs) meeting, held at the premises of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Abuja.
The meeting was presided over by the EU Ambassador-Designate, Gautier Mignot, with the Liaison Officers of all Member States’ of the EU in attendance.
The main purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the existing good cooperation with NAPTIP and give the Agency the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with the EU Member States on issues of human trafficking as well as highlight NAPTIP priorities for the future.
Addressing the participants, the Director General who stated that her administration shall build on the existing policies and counter-trafficking programme of her predecessors, told the EU Member States that she would deepen actions and do more in line with the National Action Policy on Human Trafficking in Nigeria, to smoke out human traffickers out of the Country.
The NAPTIP boss said, “We will do more in line with the National Action Plan (NAP) in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and tying it to the priorities of the present administration and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She rolled out the areas more attention would be paid to include:
“Developing a more efficient and cooperative system for the identification and return of trafficking victims in the EU countries; Improved relations with partners;
“Construction of six (6) Victims Support Centers (shelters with skills acquisition facilities) one in each of the 6 geopolitical Zones of the country for returned and rescued victims of trafficking to cater for their maximum rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration into society.
“Renovation and supply of equipment to existing shelters; Conducting joint cross-border operations targeting trafficking routes; Expansion of corporations with neighboring countries; Capacity Building of personnel especially Investigators and Intelligence officers; Counsellor and care Givers; and Prosecutors;
“Improve the technology capacity for tracking and analyzing trafficking data and forensics. Improve NAPTIP’s capacity to respond to emerging challenges such as cyber-trafficking and the use of digital platforms for recruitment and exploitation.
Others she said, “Developing a common front to prevent, fight and suppress trafficking in persons especially women and children through impactful and evidence-based awareness campaigns; Promoting friendly co-operation amongst parties with a view to attaining streamlined Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA), end-to-end investigation, prosecution of traffickers and asset recovery;
“Improved research activities focused on combating human trafficking; Evacuation of Nigerian Victims of trafficking trapped in different countries that are willing to return home”
The NAPTIP boss stated that all these and many more can only be achieved through collaborative efforts and partnerships between the Agency and its stakeholders and partners.
“I am trusting that members of the European Union especially the ILOs gathered here would support me to get the job done. My doors would be wide open to you at all times as we need each other to get the job done”, said Bello.
The Director General acknowledged the tremendous support that Nigeria through NAPTIP received from the European Union as a body and also the various Member States in the course of the counter-trafficking efforts adding that the projects have impacted positively in the realization of the mandates of the Agency, especially in rescue and support to victims of trafficking; capacity development of officers; various prevention activities and partnership with Civil Society organizations and partnership with neighboring countries within the West African sub-region.
In his remarks, the EU Ambassador-Designate, Gautier Mignot, commended the Director General for the modest achievements of the Agency, adding that the fight against human trafficking is a global priority that deserves the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.
The high point of the meeting was an interactive session involving all participants where more clarification on the operations and activities of NAPTIP, were sought.
The Immigration Liaison Officers are the EU Member States’ experts in migration and the first point of contact for EU Embassies in matters of trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants.