UNODC, NAPTIP, LASNA Unveil Countering Human Trafficking Office in Lagos
Oru Leonard
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in another important step towards combating human trafficking, unveiled the Countering
Human Trafficking Office in Lagos State. The new office will be utilized by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), as a member of the Lagos State Task Force (STF), on Human Trafficking to coordinate state wide action against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants and to provide access to victims, their families and friends as well as concerned citizens in support of a whole-of-society effort to tackle this heinous crime.
This initiative is being supported through two UNODC projects, namely on Improved-response-to-trafficking-in-persons (IRTIP) and on Strengthening-Nigeria’s criminal justice response to TIP and SOM (PROMIS), generously supported by the governments of the USA and the Netherlands.
Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General of NAPTIP in her remarks at the official launch and handover highlighted the importance of the projects to Lagos which serves as a transit and destination for internal and trans-border trafficking in persons. She also added, “Prevention is a key pillar in the fight against human trafficking and raising public awareness and educating communities about the tactics employed by traffickers can serve as a powerful deterrent.”
Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice and Chairperson of the Lagos STF stated in his keynote address that the structure aims to intensify collaborative efforts between the state government and key stakeholders on the rescue, reform, and referral of human trafficking victims.
Notably, the establishment of the State Task Forces (STFs) on Human Trafficking was premised on the need to enhance State and non-State multi sectoral response towards combating Human Trafficking in Nigeria, especially to enhance comprehensive prevention and coordinated services for the protection and assistance of trafficked victims in Nigeria under the overall coordination of NAPTIP. According to the Compendium of STF Good Practices (2017-2022) in Nigeria, between 2021 and 2022, STFs as first line responders have rescued and referred over 545 trafficked victims to NAPTIP.
More than an office space, this Countering Human Trafficking Office in Lagos State is expected to enhance the coordination of the response between NAPTIP, the State Task Force and the LNSA in the identification, prevention and reporting of human trafficking cases in Lagos State.
“The five-room container office, completed in November 2023, stands as one of the numerous symbols of UNODC’s commitment to supporting the Government of Nigeria in combatting human trafficking. Considering the spread of the operations of the LNSA throughout Lagos, it has become a solid structure to complement NAPTIP in community intelligence gathering, rescue, referral and reporting,” said Mr. Danilo Campisi, deputy representative of UNODC as he appreciated the support of the United States and Netherlands governments in funding the project.
In his remarks, U.S. Consul General Will Stevens noted that the U.S. government is fully committed to its partnership with Nigeria to support a whole of society approach in combatting trafficking that involves local authorities and civil society organizations. He explained that between 2021 and 2023, the U.S. government through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs provided $1.3 million to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to support the Nigerian government’s efforts to protect those vulnerable to trafficking.
“The U.S. government understands the importance of a comprehensive response to human trafficking. That is why in addition to projects like this, which build the physical infrastructure, we have invested in the training of first responders as well as the reintegration of victims of trafficking,” Consul General Stevens said. “In 2023, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. government trained 160 civilian law enforcement officers to respond to cases of human trafficking and counselled more than 100 civil society organizations on how to identify and refer potential victims of trafficking.”
Ms. Eva de Witt, representative of the Kingdom of Netherlands stressed the importance of keeping efforts aligned and the need to achieve optimal results through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
The IRTIP and PROMIS projects have improved the cooperation between NAPTIP and States and also enhanced the capacity of law enforcement and security agencies. UNODC in line with its Strategic Vision for Nigeria, continues to support the Government in implementing the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking with a specific focus on strengthening the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons, enhancing prevention and national coordination; increasing international cooperation with transit and destination countries, and promoting research and analysis of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
The event was also attended by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL).
(UNODC Media)
