National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has stressed the need for government to put in more resources and commendable fiscal appropriation to tackle the issue of human trafficking.

Its Director General, Julie Okah-Donli, made the call at a news briefing to herald the 2019 World Human Trafficking Day billed for July 30, with the theme World Human Trafficking Day is “Human Trafficking: Call Your Government to Action.”

Okah-Donli said government must put in implementable legislation and well coordinated advocacy to tackle the menace, saying it was heartwarming that NAPTIP had already called government at all levels to action, in line with the UN conceived theme for the year.

She said the agency had commenced the process of setting up of task forces against human trafficking in
the 36 states of the federation to strengthen the country’s response to the scourge.

The director general said NAPTIP had also enhanced the involvement of various levels of government to address
issues of human trafficking from the grassroots.

She said most victims of trafficking were often recruited from remote parts of the country, taking advantage of the peoples’ vulnerability and the lack of sufficient information, saying the agency had commenced advocacy to various states and local governments on the need to domesticate laws that had to do with issues of human trafficking.

She called for the promulgation of other relevant laws that would aid the fight against human trafficking.

Mr Franz Velestine, the Country Director, UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), urged Nigerians
to guide against human trafficking in their domains.

According to him, religious leaders, traditional rulers and Civil Society Organisations should support the fight against the menace.

He said “our programmes are comprehensive; working together to support Nigerian government to achieve
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is our target.

“Well managed policies, peaceful societies and justice for all are our drive.”

He urged government to ensure more awareness about human trafficking and to redouble efforts toward
addressing the issue.

He reiterated the determination of UNODC to continue to support Federal Government toward fighting
the menace.

NAPTIP has a lineup of activities from July 26 to July 30, with Muslim prayer, Church prayer, road walk, football competition, among others, to mark the 2019 World Human Trafficking Day.

Also, the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli has expressed dissatisfaction with the United States’ report on Trafficking In Persons.

The report upgraded the NAPTIP to Tier 2 from Tier 2 Watch List.

Julie Okah-Donli told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that Nigeria had occupied that position for two years.

According to Okah-Donli, the report did not give due credit to the efforts being made by Nigeria and NAPTIP, in particular.

“Our response is based on the fact that Nigeria has doubled its rate of prosecutions and convictions in the last one year, including investigations and awareness creation,” she said.

The director-general also listed other areas of focus to include high scale enlightenment across the country, rehabilitation and sheltering of trafficked victims, and diligent prosecution of government officials suspected to be involved in human trafficking offences.

Okah-Donli noted that considering Nigeria’s efforts vis-a-vis other countries equally rated by the report, it ought to top the Tier 1 table rather than still being in Tier 2.

Although the director-general said that the report was received with mixed feelings, she said that NAPTIP had commenced discussions with other sister law enforcement agencies and MDAs on the development.

This, she said, was with a view to mapping out strategic plans in response to the issues raised in the reports.