March 12, 2021, Abuja:
Organ harvesting, prostitution, labour exploitation and domestic slavery were some of the issues discussed by the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, when they brainstormed in Abuja on ways to curb modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
The NAPTIP DG, according to a statement by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM, said that human trafficking is a modern-day cankerworm and the second largest illegal market churning out about $150 billion dollars annually and poses serious threat to national security.
According to the NAPTIP Boss, the Agency is the forerunner in the fight against human trafficking in Africa, emphasising that NAPTIP and NiDCOM have been joined together as Siamese twins in the fight against all forms of human trafficking especially in the Diaspora.
According to Mrs Ibrahim, “I thank you Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for your giant strides and for sometimes utilising your personal resources, as well as your office to rescue Nigerians stranded abroad .
The NAPTIP Boss stated further that after 17 years of NAPTIP’s establishment, there was a need to rebrand the agency and usher in fresh ideas to catalyse the vision of NAPTIP and seek partnerships among strategic partners like NiDCOM.
The NAPTIP DG also announced plans to incorporate all States’ Diaspora focal persons into NAPTIP’s task force in all states of the federation.
She highlighted her vision for the organisation to include: engagement with State Diapora Focal Point Officers, restrategize preventive mechanisms towards discouraging human Trafficking, enforcement of Child Rights Act and the name-and-shame policy, actualize a Trafficking Trust Fund, among others.
The NiDCOM Boss, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, commended the NAPTIP DG for her plans to incorporate State diaspora focal point officers into NAPTIP’s task force in the various states. She commended her various initiatives and vision for NAPTIP, and promised further collaboration with her in every possible way.
She also stressed the imperative of arresting traffickers and ensuring they face penalties for their crimes.
