Efforts by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to combat human trafficking through the country’s waterways and coastal areas have received a major boost, as the management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council promised robust cooperation, effective collaboration, and sustained synergy with the agency.
A statement on Tuesday by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, noted that the partnership was one of the outcomes of the courtesy visit by the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, at the council’s office in Abuja.
The visit was part of the strategic engagements of NAPTIP with other partners across the country aimed at enhancing inter-agency collaboration in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking during the visit, Bello said, “As a maritime regulatory body, the NSC oversees critical gateways to the nation’s trade and transportation systems, gateways that are unfortunately also exploited by traffickers to move victims clandestinely via vessels and other maritime routes.
“The shipping, ports, and logistics sectors can play a pivotal role in early detection, prevention, and reporting of trafficking activities, making collaboration between NAPTIP and NSC not only strategic but essential.
“NAPTIP is proposing to deepen engagement with the maritime sector in the fight against human trafficking, especially in sensitisation for identification of potential trafficking cases along the waterways and timely reporting to relevant authorities.
“We propose a collaboration targeting port workers, shipping agents, freight forwarders, crew members, and other maritime stakeholders to identify and report suspected trafficking activities using NSC’s outreach structures, the Nigerian Port Process Manual platforms, and Port Standing Task Team channels to integrate anti-trafficking awareness.”
The NAPTIP boss noted that the fight against human trafficking requires a united, multi-sectoral approach.
In his response, Ukeyima, described human trafficking as one of the most heinous transnational organised crimes that requires the collective effort of all stakeholders and partners to combat.
According to him, the evolving nature of the crime, coupled with the various dimensions and scope, has made it more dangerous, with attendant consequences on innocent victims.
“It is very important that we partner together and fight this menace. This is a kind of crime that does not give a good image to the country abroad. It leads to other criminal activities.
“The maritime sector should not be left alone in this fight to combat human trafficking in Nigeria. You talked about a stowaway; this is a veritable means of transporting victims to other countries,” he added.
Also speaking, the Board member, MMS, Women of Fortune, Hall of Fame Initiative, Lami Tumaka, expressed the readiness of the organisation to partner with NAPTIP to combat human trafficking in the country.
