1.6m Nigerians Living in Modern Slavery – NAPTIP

Ahead this year’s World Day Against Human Trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has lamented the increasing rate of human trafficking with about1.6 million Nigerians out of the total number of 50 million people worldwide living in modern slavery.
Addressing a Press Conference on the activities lined up to celebrate the 20 years of the establishment of NAPTIP and commemoration of the Human Trafficking Day, the Director General of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri Azi, said the 2023 global slavery index estimates have shown that 50 million individuals are living in modern slavery, with at least 1.6 million Nigerians affected.
She said, “for anyone that has followed the NAPTIP story since inception has visibly seen the agency progressed from its very first command in Benin, Edo State to offices in 32 states, the last seven offices acquired in the past year and a half.
“In 20 years, we have seen the crime of human trafficking spread like wildfire in terms of the enormity, trends and patterns. It has not been an easy fight to dismantle these networks, but we remain undaunted.
“Only recently did the 2023 Global Slavery Index opine that globally, it is estimated that 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any day in 3021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016.
“What this narrative indicates is the urgent need for a more strategic and deliberate global response to these problems”, she stated.
Waziri Azi further insisted that “Nigeria is better poised to control and tackle human trafficking due to the collaborative efforts of everyone. The public is better informed about issues of human trafficking, and this is due to the amplified visibility of NAPTIP.
“Nigerians have become their brother’s keeper, looking out for one another and this has increased reportage of issues of human trafficking and violence against persons (domestic and sexual violence)”.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, highlighted some of the notable achievements of the agency.
2023 for now, including the recent extradition of a high-profile human trafficker to Italy to serve her 13 years jail term); 260 ongoing cases in various courts across the country; and the rescue of close to 22,000 victims of human trafficking.

In his words, “knowing that issues of human trafficking happen mostly at the sub-national level, NAPTIP has inaugurated the Task Force against Human Trafficking in 22 states.

“These task forces have over the years amplified the fight against human trafficking and enhanced collaboration with NAPTIP at the state level.

“Other recent and exciting collaborations NAPTIP has forged is the strategic partnership with Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
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