More convictions needed to curb human trafficking – NAPTIP

The Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, has said more convictions of high-profile traffickers will send a message of zero tolerance to human trafficking.

Waziri-Azi, who made this known during the celebration of the 2021 European Union Anti-Human Trafficking Day in Abuja, said access to justice is a priority for the poorest.

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She said the agency would continue to scale up people’s centred access to justice by strengthening the visibility of the agency’s reporting channels as well as its partners.

She said, “Trafficking is not a problem, it is a crisis.

“Empirical evidence shows that it has become the third-largest criminal enterprise globally and second amongst transnational organised crime despite sustained efforts by world governments.

“We are also at the stage of developing the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022-2025) with the support of Switzerland and technical support from UNODC.”

The event was organised by Action Against Trafficking in Person and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM), a project funded by European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

In his remarks, A-TIPSOM team lead, Raphel Meloni, said EU Anti-Trafficking Day presents a chance to remind people about the menace of human trafficking.