By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Federal Government has disclosed that a Roadmap for the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria 2022 – 2026 to be unveiled by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is underway.
In a statement signed by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, SA Media to the minister, the National Action Plan approved at the Federal Executive Council will coordinate efforts for greater effectiveness and efficiency by stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
The Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq who presented the document at FEC said,, “It will serve as a National Policy Document in combating human trafficking in Nigeria and the blueprint for all anti-human trafficking interventions as it ensures efficiency and greater synergy in the utilization of intervention funds from the international community and domestic donors.”
Farouq also hinted that the implemention of the NAP 2009-2012 Framework for a coordinated response to human trafficking in Nigeria has led to numerous achievements recorded by the Agency in the succeeding years, hence the need for an upgrade.
The Document is a roadmap for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), State Taskforces against Human Trafficking, Civil Society Organisations, International Donor Organisations as well as the Media in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
The National Policy Document also serves as a tool for yearly measurements and evaluation of stakeholders implementation of projects for the success of all activities.
In the same way it provides strong mechanisms which cover Protection, prevention, prosecution, Law enforcement and access to justice, Partnership coordination and digitization, Research, data and Statistics, Monitoring and evaluation.
In the light of this, the Swiss Governments funded a technical assistance project “Strengthening the policy framework and response to human trafficking in Nigeria” to aid NAPTIP and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and to support Nigeria’s efforts in developing a new five year National Action Plan on trafficking for 2022-2026.
The National Action Plan will comprise five critical pillars of action on trafficking in persons including Protection and Assistance, Prevention, Research and Assessment, Prosecution, Partnership and Coordination.
