Julie Okah–Donli
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
(NAPTIP) has read the riot acts against human trafficking at airports
nationwide.
NAPTIP said any security official found to aid human trafficking would not be spared, no matter the level or rank.
The Director-General of the agency, Julie Okah–Donli, however, urged
officers who perhaps had been involved in such activity to join hands
with the agency to stop the menace.
Okah–Donli, who gave the warning at the handover of information,
education and communication (IEC) materials to the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said any officer found in connivance with
traffickers would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to
other officers.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently disclosed
that 24.9 million people are illegally trafficked yearly through the
airports to live in conditions of modern slavery.
Okah–Donli said the challenges of human trafficking and illegal
migration had become quite enormous that it required new initiatives,
which must be developed to ensure sustained successes against the twin
monsters.
She appealed to airlines and the airport manager to display
counter-trafficking messages at the check-in and boarding areas as well
as along boarding gates.
She urged airlines to ensure that they have such messages as part of the in-flight audio and visual communications.
Part of the materials NAPTIP handed over to FAAN include 70 roll on
banners and 30 wall banners, which she said would step up sensitization
against the twin scourge of human trafficking and illegal migration.
While calling for collaboration among government and other agencies
at major airports and land borders, she urged them to report any
suspected official or persons aiding and abetting human trafficking and
illegal migration
She said the interface with FAAN and other players in the aviation
sector had become imperative in curbing the menace of human trafficking
in Nigeria.
“In the last few years, there have been reports of large number of
Nigerians trapped in sexual and labour exploitation in North Africa,
especially Libya, Asia and European countries, apart from the hundreds
that continue to die in Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea.”
The NAPTIP boss while calling for the support of various actors
across board to achieve its mandate said, to date, over 204 traffickers
had been convicted and were serving various jail terms.
“17,000 victims have been rescued and counseled with a good number
empowered by the agency from primary schools to university level who is
now officers of NAPTIP”.
Country Director, United States Government, International Narcotics
and Law Enforcement, James Jewett, commended the partners who
contributed to the implementation of the project that costs about $400,
000.
“A grant of over $400,000 was awarded to implement this very
important project. The objective of this project is to enforce and
enhance state and non-state sectoral responses toward combating
trafficking in persons in Nigeria”.
Also speaking, Country Manager, UNODC, Abimbola Adewunmi, said the
body was excited to support Nigerian government in tacking the scourge
of human trafficking and illegal migration.
“When they see this banner they would reflect and also can reexamine
the journey and think twice and say: ‘is it safe for me to go?’ It also
shows that the Nigerian government is also putting trust in the law
enforcement agencies at the airports”.
Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Hamisu Yadudu, said the partnership
with NAPTIP would assist in fighting the scourge of human trafficking
and assist in passenger facilitation.
