National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons explained

Agency Name:National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
Jurisdiction:Federal Government of Nigeria
Headquarters:Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Motto:Ensuring a Human Trafficking free Nation
Chief1 Name:Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General;
Chief3 Name:Arinze Orakwue, Director Public Enlightenment;
Chief2 Name:Hassan Hamis Tahir, Director Legal and Prosecution;
Chief4 Name:Godwin Morka, Director Research and Programme Development;
Chief5 Name:Olubiyi Olusayo, Director Training and Manpower Development;
Chief6 Name:Josiah Emerole, Director, Investigation and Monitoring;
Chief7 Name:Effeh Ekrika, Director Administration;
Chief8 Name:Ebele Ulasi, Director Counseling and Rehabilitation;
Chief9 Name:Sambo Abubakar, Director Finance and Accounts.
Agency Type:Law enforcement
Parent Agency:Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is a law enforcement agency of the federal government of Nigeria. It was established in July, 2003 to combat human trafficking and other similar human rights violations.[1]

NAPTIP is a national compliance to the international obligation under the Trafficking in Persons Protocol and responds to the need to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons, especially women, and children, complementing the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention (UNTOC).[2] It is one of the agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice.[3]

Since its inception, the Agency has investigated over ten thousand cases of human trafficking and prosecuted about five hundred offenders. Between 2003 and 2017, they convicted over 600 human traffickers and rescued about 21000 victims from Libya and other places.

Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, assumed office as the Director General of NAPTIP on September 21, 2021.[4]

Origin

NAPTIP was established under a federal bill on July 14, 2003[5] by the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2003)[6] through the advocacy of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF).[7]

Objectives

NAPTIP is mandated to enforce the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA) in Nigeria.[8] In 2015, the Agency was also given the responsibility of implementing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAAP) Act which was then passed into law by the National Assembly.

Departments

To discharge its duty smoothly in combating human trafficking, the agency has the following departments and units:[9]

Units

Zonal Commands

Currently, the agency has 9 zonal commands located in Lagos, Benin, Enugu, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Oshogbo, and Makurdi.[11]

Working With CSOs

The agency partners with non-government organizations to carry out its tasks in different states. In 2013, NAPTIP started partnering[12] with Devatop Centre for Africa Development, a youth-led anti-human trafficking organization, to train and empower youth in combating human trafficking in Nigeria, as well as investigating cases and rescuing victims.[13] NAPTIP also partners with the Network of CSOs Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, and many others.

Working With EFCC

NAPTIP requested for more support from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in their quest to rid the country of human trafficking and its attendant consequences on the image of Nigeria. This request was made by the Director General of the agency, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.[14]

Achievements

Since its inception, the agency has had over 600[15] convictions on human traffickers, as of September 2017. Between 2003 and 2017, over 3000 victims have been rescued by NAPTIP.[16] The agency has been at the forefront of rescuing and rehabilitating Nigerians from Libya,[17] with the help of the Federal Government, the International Office for Migration, and other international organizations, which has gotten a commendation[18] from the United States.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Women's Consortium of Nigeria committed to the enforcement of Women and children's rights . 2022-03-30 . www.womenconsortiumofnigeria.org.
  2. Web site: Lamai . Samuel . 2021-01-11 . Farouq Urges NAPTIP To Use Data And Evidence Based System To Improve, Align Programmes With That Of The Ministry. . 2022-03-30 . Federal Ministry of Information and Culture . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2022-01-08 . Stakeholders appraise developments in humanitarian affairs ministry . 2022-03-30 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2021-09-09 . NAPTIP: Power play that led to former Senator's sack . 2022-03-30 . Daily Trust . en.
  5. News: Ibenegbu. George. Top 10 functions of NAPTIP. 12 May 2018. Naija.ng - Nigeria news.. Naij.com. 28 November 2017.
  6. Web site: About NAPTIP – NAPTIP. www.naptip.gov.ng. NAPTIP. 12 May 2018.
  7. Web site: Admin . 2003 . Establishment of the National Agency for Traffic in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209072611/https://www.lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/T23.pdf . 9 February 2022 . 29 March 2022 . The Nigerian Law book.
  8. Web site: Functions Of NAPTIP Passnownow.com. passnownow.com. Passnownow. 12 May 2018.
  9. Web site: 2019-07-31 . Human Trafficking Day: NAPTIP rescues 14,000 victims in 16 years . 2022-03-29 . en-GB.
  10. News: NAPTIP inaugurates new Squad to fight human trafficking - News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). 13 May 2018. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). News Agency of Nigeria. 22 August 2017.
  11. News: NGP WRF: Organizations. 13 May 2018. wrf.nigeriagovernance.org. Nigerian Governance.
  12. Web site: Devatop partners NAPTIP and FIDA to train 120 Nigerian Lawyers On Anti-Trafficking Advocacy – Devatop Centre for Africa Development . 10 December 2018.
  13. Web site: Devatop Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassadors visit National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) . African Centre for Media & Information Literacy . 10 December 2018 . 8 July 2017.
  14. Web site: Human Trafficking: NAPTIP Seek Improved Collaboration with EFCC . efccnigeria.org/ . 10 February 2021 . 29 January 2021.
  15. News: Olaleye. Aluko. 331 persons convicted for human trafficking, says NAPTIP. 13 May 2018. Punch Newspapers. Punch Newspaper. 21 October 2018.
  16. News: Eno. Gabriel. 3, 500 victims of human trafficking rescued by Naptip - Vanguard News. 13 May 2018. Vanguard News. Vanguard News. 11 April 2018.
  17. News: 3, 500 victims of human trafficking rescued by Naptip - Vanguard News. 13 May 2018. Vanguard News. Vanguade News. 11 April 2018.
  18. News: US rates NAPTIP high in combating human trafficking -. 13 May 2018. The Eagle Online. Eagle Online. 20 October 2017.