Six hundred and twenty-nine human traffickers have been convicted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
Nigeriacrime.com also learned that they rescued over 22,000 victims in the past 20 years, but is calling for more funding as it struggles to sustain its operations.
The agency spends approximately N1.5 million every month to provide for victims sheltered in camps.
The announcement was made during a discussion on Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Palladium.
The call for more funding was echoed by the Programme Director of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Timothy Ejeh, who highlighted the urgent need for increased support from stakeholders.
Ejeh said: “NAPTIP is underfunded. As we speak, the agency spends about 1.5 million every month to feed survivors of human trafficking. With the fuel subsidy removed, the burden is even more significant.
“There is a need for the private sector to see how they can support the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund (VOTTF).”
The VOTTF, as per the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, is meant to support victims of human trafficking and violence.
Funds can be raised through confiscating and selling assets of convicted traffickers, as well as through donations from private sectors, religious bodies, and individuals.
Also speaking on the matter, Fatima Magaji Ahmed, the Programme Director of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FORWAN), emphasized the importance of private sector involvement.
She said, “The sensitization to get funding from the private sector for NAPTIP will go a long way.
“It allows interested persons to donate money towards the cause.”
The announcement came amid an online interactive program, “Conversation with NAPTIP”, held to mark the agency’s 20th anniversary and the 2023 World Day Against Human Trafficking.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Fatima Waziri-Azi, issued a warning against irregular migration while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to outmanoeuvre criminals through enhanced partnerships.
“In the past 20 years, the crime of human trafficking has evolved in terms of trends and patterns, but one thing I can say for sure is that Nigeria is better poised to tackle the issues of human trafficking,” Waziri-Azi said.
She further advised Nigerians considering migration to do so legally and responsibly.
“If you must Japa, Japa the right way. Migrate legally. You must do your homework. You must do your research. You must ask the right questions,” she urged.
The Action Against Trafficking in Persons Cluster (AATIP), which includes JDPC Abuja, is one of six civic clusters established to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
It is actively urging Non-Governmental Organisations, Civic Society Organizations, religious bodies, and all relevant stakeholders to join NAPTIP in its mission to end trafficking in the country.