The Director General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed Friday unveiled two projects aimed at strengthening its fight against human trafficking.
He said this yesterday in Abuja at an event to mark the World Day Against Human Trafficking.
- PODCAST: Human Trafficking: ‘Nigeria Must Ditch Its Infamous Record’
- COVID-19: Infections surge in Nigeria, as NCDC records 1,683 cases in 3 days
The projects will be implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs (UNODC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights (OHCHR) in close co-ordination with NAPTIP and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He said the first project tagged: “Strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice response to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants – PROMIS” is aimed at strengthening the country’s capacities to prevent, investigate and prosecute cases in line with international human rights standards and to also fortify international cooperation and internal coordination.
The second project, “Strengthening trans-regional action and responses against the smuggling of migrants – STARDOM”, focuses on support to Nigeria in combatting the activities of migrants smuggling networks and the threat it poses to smuggled migrants by enhancing law enforcement and judicial responses and strategies beyond interdiction activities towards dismantling criminal networks and fostering transnational co-operation.
He said the project is to be supported by the Canadian government.
The event also covered the launch of the screening and reporting tools for identification of victims of human trafficking by stakeholders which was developed by NAPTIP, NPF, NIS, NSCDC and civil society organisations under the sponsorship of NACTAL with support from IOM.
Representatives from the ECOWAS, EU, Canadian High Commission, US Embassy, British High Commission and Italian embassy all commended the effort and work being done by NAPTIP and other international organisations fighting against human trafficking.
