The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reports rescuing and aiding 21,181 victims of human trafficking over a span of 20 years.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, made this statement during her appearance before the Senate Committee on Social Duties to defend the 2024 budget.
She expressed the agency’s commitment to offering ongoing support to victims for as long as they require it, acknowledging that the process demands both time and substantial financial resources.
Prof. Waziri-Azi clarified that NAPTIP extends assistance to victims through legal and medical support, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
Waziri-Azi stated that in 2022, “NAPTIP rescued and received 2, 748 victims, which was 1,274 more victims that were rescued in 2022.”
She added, “From January to November 2023, we have already rescued and received 2,200 victims.”
“Our shelter in Lagos has so far received the highest number of victims, followed by Katsina because of the borders, Kano and FCT shelters.”
She said in 2021 and 2022, Benue State had the highest number of rescued victims, followed by Ondo, Edo, Delta Kano and Imo states.
She added, “As part of our prosecuting mandate, last year, we secured 80 convictions, which was the highest in any single year since inception.”
“Since this year began, we have already secured 63 convictions and counting, including the conviction of a high-level trafficker in Benin that was responsible for trafficking 12 girls to Belgium for human trafficking and sexual exploitation.”
She informed the committee that, for the inaugural time, the agency successfully obtained the conviction of a Lebanese individual engaged in the trafficking and exploitation of Nigerian girls.
The NAPTIP DG noted, “So in 20 years, NAPTIP has secured 639 convictions and counting, and on March 8, for the first time in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Interpol, the Italian government, a high-profile trafficker, Charity Omoye, was extradited to Italy to serve her 13 years sentence.”
She said the enhanced visibility and activities of the organisation had put a challenge on the organisation as the complaints on human trafficking had increased.
She added, “In 2022, the agency received 1,462 human trafficking complaints which was plus 31 .9 per cent from the number received in 2021.”
“This has caused a serious strain on our human and financial resources and the challenges confronting the organization are enormous.”
She mentioned that the NAPTIP budget for 2023 allocated a total of N2 billion to the organization based on the envelope system, whereas a projected total revenue of N3 billion is anticipated for 2024.
She emphasized that NAPTIP currently depends on donor organizations for its operational activities, expressing concerns about the sustainability of this approach.
The committee chairman, Senator Shehu Kaka, stated that the committee plans to conduct an oversight visit to NAPTIP’s offices to assess its activities firsthand.
He added, “Effort would be made in the areas of budgetary allocation to the organisation given the vantage role it played in the society.”