The Abia State Diaspora Commission has called for closer collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to curb the menace of human trafficking and exploitation of Nigerians at home and abroad.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev Dr Annie Onu, made the appeal during a familiarisation visit to the Director General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello, in Abuja.
The Diaspora Commission boss commended NAPTIP for its dedication to safeguarding Nigerians, noting that stronger synergy was crucial in protecting Abia indigenes and Nigerians in general from traffickers.
She said: “On behalf of His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, Abia State Governor, he sends his greetings to this great team. I am so, so pleased to be here and for the wonderful work you are doing, making sure that every citizen of Nigeria have a safe place,” she said.
Rev Onu explained that the Abia Diaspora Commission was mandated to oversee the welfare of indigenes living abroad, especially victims of trafficking, adding that such cases should first be reported to the Commission for proper investigation and referral.
“For the Diaspora Commission, it is important that we work closely with you. Whenever you have a case of trafficking involving an Abian in the diaspora, we should be your first point of contact. Once we are informed, we will prepare our report and forward it to the legal team and investigators.”
“This way, we can work collectively and effectively as a team to uphold Nigeria’s values and ensure that our citizens are not exploited under any circumstances or for any reason,” Rev Onu stated.
She also thanked NAPTIP for its efforts and pledged the Commission’s support in ensuring Abia indigenes and other Nigerians were safe.
“For my State Abia, our dear governor is a man that is committed to following due process and he wants every son and daughter of Abia State to be safe,” the diaspora commission boss noted.
Responding, the NAPTIP Director General, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello, who welcomed the delegation, commended the Governor for his commitment to tackling human trafficking and emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with state-level institutions.
The NAPTIP DG called for greater cooperation with the Abia State Diaspora Commission, stressing that partnership and engagements were vital to winning the fight against human trafficking.
She also discussed plans to inaugurate a State Task Force against Human Trafficking in Abia, which NAPTIP would soon establish in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Some senior NAPTIP officials, including the Director of Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Kehinde Abigail Komolafe, and the Director, Counselling and Rehabilitation Department, Angela Agbayekhai, who briefed the delegation on the agency’s mandate, highlighted its five-pronged approach of prevention, protection, prosecution, partnership, and policy.
They also stressed that internal trafficking remained more prevalent than external trafficking, with cases of child labour, baby factories, and underage domestic servitude being rampant.
