NAPTIP, NIDCOM PARTNER TO CHECK MENACE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Oru Leonard

Organ harvesting, prostitution, labour exploitation and domestic slavery are some of the issues that dominated the talks between the two Chief Executive Officers (CEOs): Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, as they brainstormed in Abuja to curb the modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

Mr Gabriel Odu of NiDCOM Media and Protocol unit in a press release made available to NEWS DOT AFRICA the highlights of the meeting between the NAPTIP DG and NiDCOM boss at the Commission headquarters in Abuja.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that human trafficking is now the modern-day cankerworm as it is the second largest illegal market churning out about $150 billion dollars annually. She noted that it poses serious threat to national security if it is checked.

According to her, the Agency is the forerunner in the fight against human trafficking in Africa, emphasising that NAPTIP and NiDCOM have been joined together as Siamese twins in the fight against all forms of human trafficking, especially in the Diaspora.

“I thank you Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for your giant strides and for sometimes utilising your personal resources, as well as, your office to rescue Nigerians stranded abroad”, she said.

The NAPTIP Boss added that after 17 years of NAPTIP’s establishment, there was a need to rebrand the agency, thereby ushering fresh ideas to catalyse the vision of NAPTIP and seeking partnership among strategic partners like NiDCOM.

Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim also announced plans to incorporate all States Diaspora focal persons into NAPTIP task force in all states of the federation.

She listed her vision for the organisation to include: engagement with State Diaspora Focal Point Officers, restrategise preventive mechanisms towards discouraging human trafficking, enforcement of Child Right Act and the name-and-shame policy, actualise a Trafficking Trust Fund, among others.

Responding, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the NAPTIP boss for her plans to incorporate State diaspora focal point officers into NAPTIP Task Force in the various states .

She commended her various initiatives and vision for NAPTIP , and promised to enhanced further collaboration with her in every possible way.

She noted the imperative of arresting traffickers and ensuring they face penalties for their crimes