Gift Wada
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, said about 1.6million Nigerians are living in modern slavery daily.
Director General of the agency, Fatima Waziri- azi, stated this during the world press conference for the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of NAPTIP and the 2023 World day against human trafficking on Tuesday, in Abuja.
While reassuring Nigerians of the agency’s commitment to curb human Trafficking, she urged stakeholders to reinforce commitment to the protection of victims rights and control human trafficking.
She said, “Only recently, did the 2023 Global Slavery Index opine that globally, it is estimated that 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any day in 2021, an increase of 10million people since 2016. What this narrative indicates is the urgent need for a more strategic and deliberate global response to these problems.
“I urge us to seize this opportunity to reinforce our commitment to protect the rights of victims, control human trafficking, and build a safer, just and inclusive society,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,FMHADMSD, Nasir Sani- Gwarzo, commended the agency for it’s commitment in 20 years to countering trafficking agencies and providing mentorship for several countries within Sub- Sahara Africa and other continents, by setting a pace for them to follow.
The Permanent Secretary, also stressed on the need to keep promoting collaboration among agencies as it would help curtail the menace in Nigeria
Sani-Gwarzo, said,14,813 cases of trafficking in persons were reported; 10,005 suspected traffickers arrested; 623 convictions (80 convictions in 2022 and 47 in 2023 for now, including the recent extradition of a high-profile human trafficker to Italy to serve her 13 years jail term).
“Others include 260 ongoing cases in various courts across the country; the rescue of close to 22,000 victims of human trafficking.”