Nigeria Immigration Service, will continue to check drug and human trafficking with its one hundred and seventeen control posts and seventy-two patrol bases.

This is as the service is implementing effective policies to check the control of persons in and out of the country.

Its Passport Control Officer in charge of Ikoyi Passport Office, Lagos, Segun Adegoke said at the just-concluded Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria,CRAN, seminar to mark the World International Day Against Drug and Human Trafficking in Lagos.

Adegoke, a Deputy Comptroller said with the establishment of the new border patrol corps consisting of one hundred and seventeen control posts and seventy-two patrol bases and in synergy with other security agencies, drug and human trafficking will be put in check.

According to him, drug and human trafficking was a lucrative and hidden business that involves syndicates, therefore, security agencies need to be steps ahead these syndicates.

Adegoke, who is the guest speaker at the seminar said for effective border management, surveillance had increased at the border to check irregular migrant as officers at the control base were also trained periodically.

He said the officers also go on constant inspection of hotels to check if there were irregular migrants hiding in the country, saying at the point of entry or exit, officers check suspicious travelling documents and also use their professional experience to determine when not to grant suspicious applications for passport.

Adegoke said the service also had deportees’ bio-data which makes it easy for it to track unrepentant victims and traffickers themselves, saying parents and guardians should play an important role in the upbringing of their children to prevent them from being victims of trafficking.

But, Chief Executive Officer, Halogen Security, Wale Olaoye expressed the fear of the possibility of increase in human trafficking in few years to come if adequate steps were not taken.

According to Olaoye, human trafficking would surpass illegal sale of arms and ammunition and should be taken seriously, saying the nation was looking to change the narrative as the country tops other countries in the production and seizure of hard drugs.

Olaoye said Nigeria also had the highest number of persons serving jail terms for drug offenses in the world which should be of great concern, saying the laws governing human and drug trafficking also needs to be made stiffer as fines no longer make the laws effective enough to check the menace.

He applauded the federal and state ministries of education in ensuring that children and adults alike are aware of the threats that abound in the culture of ignorance.

According to him, the role of the government in ensuring the adoption of general social service procedures and streamlining them to meet global standards in addressing and changing the course of the current negative narrative of the nation.

The role of the Police in identifying already convicted offenders and forecasting the activities of individuals who could be termed potential traffickers based on previous travel activity is commendable,’’ Olaoye said.

He also urged the Nollywood industry to partner with the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to produce true life stories and experiences of returnees or those weaned from
drugs.

Olaoye said such help in demonstrating and sharing the alternative narrative that are real life testimonials.

Similarly, a representative of the NAPTIP Director-General, Kehinde Akomolafe said: “We need an attitude of change for things to move on in this country.

“Human trafficking is modern day slavery which needs to be checked. It is a crime that cannot be done by just a person but syndicates also involved in money laundering and drug trafficking.

“Sometimes, the victims see the traffickers as their benefactor which is a major challenge and NAPTIP has set up nine zonal offices across the six geo-political zones to check the menace.

“Human trafficking is an evil that can be ended through collaboration as Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country.

“NAPTIP has commenced sensitisation as ignorance is often seen as the reasons and excuse by victims.

“The law governing human trafficking has been repealed in 2015 and included stiffer punishments, no options of fine and proceeds of trafficking go into victims trust fund.’’