FG Reaffirms Strong Political Will to Combat Human Trafficking, Backs NAPTIP’s National Action Plan
The Federal Government has reiterated its firm commitment to combating human trafficking across Nigeria, pledging sustained institutional backing, strengthened policy implementation, and full administrative support for all counter-trafficking legal frameworks.
The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, gave the assurance at the 2nd Policy Level Meeting on Human Trafficking in Nigeria. The meeting was organized by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with support from the Government of Switzerland and additional funding from the European Union.
The event was held under the projects “From Policy to Action: Implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022–2026)” and “Support to Migration Governance in Nigeria (Component 3).”
Represented by the Director of Planning and Statistics, Mrs. Victoria Ojogbane, the Minister said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains resolute in protecting human dignity and ensuring the eradication of human trafficking in all its forms.
“The eight-point agenda of the present administration places emphasis on protecting victims and strengthening justice mechanisms,” he said. “Efforts are being made to consolidate partnerships with law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners to dismantle trafficking networks and restore hope to survivors.”
In her remarks, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, highlighted the agency’s key achievements while calling for sustained collaboration to eliminate human trafficking nationwide.
She announced the successful launch of the National Anti-Trafficking Dashboard, the first of its kind in Africa — a digital, real-time platform for monitoring, coordination, and reporting of all counter-trafficking interventions. The innovation, she noted, marks a major breakthrough in data-driven governance on the continent.
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To strengthen prevention at the grassroots, NAPTIP inaugurated A-TIPVAP (Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons) Vanguards in 35 schools this year, bringing the total to 223 schools nationwide. These vanguards serve as early-warning networks and knowledge hubs for preventing trafficking and violence among young people.
She also announced the development of Students’ Handbooks, Standard Operating Procedures, and reporting tools under the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), implemented in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
The meeting also featured goodwill messages from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, the Italian Embassy, heads of key MDAs, and other international partners.
FG Reaffirms Strong Political Will to Combat Human Trafficking, Backs NAPTIP’s National Action Plan