REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT A PUBLIC LECTURE MARKING THE WORLD DAY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (NAPTIP), HELD AT CHELSEA HOTEL, ABUJA, ON JULY 31, 2018.
PROTOCOL.
1. I am very pleased to be at this Public Lecture marking the 2018 World Day Against Human Trafficking. I commend the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for its work against human trafficking in Nigeria, and for organising this event as part of continued efforts towards combatting the menace.
2. I should start by saying that the challenge of human trafficking is one that the National Assembly has been very concerned about. It was for this reason that, with the help of NAPTIP and other relevant Agencies as well as CSOs and our international partners, we organised the Senate Roundtable on Migration and Human Trafficking in Nigeria, which held in Benin-City, Edo State, in February of this year.
3. Some relevant statistics might be of use, to remind us of the gravity of the situation as it exists in our country today. According to a United Nations Report, ‘Nigeria has acquired a reputation for being one of the leading African countries in human trafficking with cross-border and internal trafficking.’
4. The same report goes on to assert that Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for victims, especially women and children, trafficked for the purpose of forced labour and sexual exploitation. The situation in Nigeria is further exacerbated by the fact that there is a high level of trafficking even within the country.
5. Due to the high demand for child workers at the household level and in the informal sector, children are trafficked for forced labour primarily for domestic servitude, street vending and other services. Evidently, turning the tide will involve sensitisation programmes to bring about attitudinal change among many in our society as regards the use of underage labour.
6. Moreover, we should not overlook the menace of cross-border trafficking, through which mostly young women are lured to foreign countries with promises of jobs and livelihoods. There is also no denying the fact that some of these young persons voluntarily subject themselves to this situation in search of the proverbial ‘greener pastures’. Unfortunately, the greener pastures often fail to materialise, with many ending up in dehumanising conditions including sexual exploitation and modern slavery.
7. The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, confirmed the criticality of these issues when he made it known that 10,000 persons had been trafficked in one year alone from that state, with 3,000 losing their lives during the same period. Admittedly, human trafficking is a global challenge that has taken many forms over time; and poverty is recognised as a major driving force behind it.
8. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is apparent, therefore, that the fight against trafficking in Nigeria must necessarily be on two fronts. First, policy frameworks that are already in place need to be implemented more effectively by the relevant agencies. These include the Child Protection Act, and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act. In addition, criminal charges should always be brought against perpetrators, as successful convictions would serve as a strong deterrent to others.
9. The Senate Roundtable highlighted the need to intensify collaboration and cooperation between governments in the origin, transit and destination countries – to strengthen legal frameworks, as well as sustainable and innovative steps for dealing with the repatriation and reintegration of victims. Recommendations were made which we are taking forward. We have some progress too in Edo State, which has now passed a Law to Prohibit Trafficking in Persons.
10. Secondly, the root causes of trafficking call to be addressed. High levels of poverty can only serve to increase the vulnerability of young Nigerians to the false promises peddled by traffickers. With this in mind, the 8th National Assembly has, through our legislative agenda, taken bold steps that will contribute to the revival and growth of the Nigerian economy. We are committed to the radical improvement of the Nigerian economy to enhance its capacity to provide quality education, jobs and other opportunities for our young people.
11. Let me close by assuring that we remain committed to seeing the end of trafficking in Nigeria. I would like to, once again, express my gratitude to NAPTIP and its Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, for this very important event. No doubt, the words and wisdom of the Guest Lecturer, His Grace, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of Enugu, Anglican Communion, on ‘Trafficking in Persons: Nigerian Efforts and the Uncomfortable Truth’ – will provide us with a keen insight, as we continue to look for a solution to this pressing problem.
Thank you for listening.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
