Niger Delta
NAPTIP/ICMPD Renew Campaign Against Human Trafficking In Delta
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) on Tuesday in Asaba renewed campaign strategy against human trafficking in Delta State.
Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, Director-General, NAPTIP, formally flagged off a two-day Awareness and Capacity Raising Workshop for School Principals, Vanguard Coordinators and Education Administrators.
According to her, the workshop was to equip participants on the use of the Tools for the implementation of TIPVAP Vanguards Under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
The Tide’s source reports that the programme was organised by NAPTIP in collaboration with ICMPD implementing STEAP in Delta State.
The project is being funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
Adamu-Bello, represented by Mr. Josiah Emerole, Director of Intelligence of Research and Programme Development Department, NAPTIP, said the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness on issues of human trafficking and how to deal with it.
She said the fight against human trafficking should be a collective one and not to be left for government agencies alone.
She said 50 secondary schools have been selected in Delta, and that each school would have NAPTIP Students Vanguards to continue with the sensitisation against human trafficking in the state.
According to her, the workshop would help build the stakeholders’ capacity to coordinate the vanguards in their schools.
The NAPTIP boss further said the target is to catch the children young, to educate and equip them with requisite knowledge to create awareness among the students and their families to enable them identify the red flags of trafficking.
“As principals and Vanguard coordinators, you owe the children responsibility to save them from becoming victims of the traffickers.
“Also, as principals and teachers, what we are doing here toady is also for you, you can be trafficked as a teacher, principal or parent by the traffickers for forced labour, sex or for organ harvesting.
“A few years ago, NAPTIP with ICMPD infused trafficking in persons issues in the curriculum of basic and secondary school education in Nigeria.
“Now to further that, we began to set up clubs in schools called Vanguards in secondary schools and Brigades in Primary schools”, she stated.
She, however, disclosed that the agency has so far rescued and reintegrated into the society about 26,000 victims while 700 persons have been convicted by the agency.
Also, Mrs. Rhoda Johnson, Project Manager, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)- STEAP project, said the project’s target was to ensure children are safe and less vulnerable in the society.
She noted that the training was aimed at sustaining awareness, strengthening collaboration and understanding of issues of trafficking and how to report trafficking in persons.
”The STEAP project have other components, but what we are doing now is being implemented by NAPTIP which is to inaugurate vanguards in 50 schools in Delta State and other four states where we are implementing the project.
“The aim of the STEAP project is to strengthen awareness, enhance stakeholders capacity and collaboration with Civil Society Organisations to prevent trafficking among school age children.
”The STEAP project is for four years. We started it in 2024 and it will end in 2027. We are collaborating with government and it is part of the sustainability plan, so that when the project is ended as per funding by the government of the Netherlands, the State Government could carry on.
“We also expect the government to replicate the school vanguards in other schools and communities.
“That is why we are working with NAPTIP which is saddled with the responsibility of inaugurating vanguards and it has been doing well and NAPTIP will do more now with funding”, Johnson said.
In a remark, the State Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ohwovoriole Ekemejero, represented by Mrs. Ijoma Nwanze, Secretary, State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, lauded NAPTIP and ICMPD for the sustained fight against human trafficking in the state.
Also, the State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, represented by Mr. Macleans Eze, Desk Officer, State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and Irregular Migrations, said the workshop was apt.
“This workshop represents a crucial step in equipping our school principals, vanguard coordinators and school administrators with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect our children from exploitation and abuse.
In a lecture titled, ”Understanding Human Trafficking”, the Director, Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, Kehinde Akomolafe, said traffickers deploy deception, isolation, debt bondage, fetish oaths to control their victims.
According to her, the traffickers are members of the family, friends and associate who are driven by inordinate ambition to make money.
The source reports that about a hundred participants have so far been engaged to benefit from the workshop aimed at stemming the tide against human trafficking in Delta State.
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Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said his administration will continue to collaborate with the navy for effective protection of the waterways.
Otu stated this when the Commandant, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, Commodore Shuaib Ahmed, visited him in Calabar.
The Governor described the visit as critical to consolidating the partnership between Cross River State and the navy.
“Peace and stability remain non-negotiable prerequisites for the progress of the state.
“So, this visit reaffirms our shared resolve to keep the state safe and secured through sustained collaboration,” he said.
Otu stated that security remained the foundation for meaningful development in every society.
“No society prospers in the midst of insecurity. As a state, our development vision depends on peace, order and collective vigilance,” he said.
The Governor commended the Navy for the level of professionalism being exuded by its personnel in the discharge of their duties.
He said the Navy’s efforts had hugely boosted investor confidence and strengthened the state’s economic environment.
The Governor assured the Navy of the state government’s continued support towards enhanced operation.
Earlier, Ahmed explained that the visit followed the military tradition of familiarizing with authorities upon assumption of duties.
He stated that it was crucial to align naval operations with the strategic priorities of the state government.
The naval chief thanked the state government for its support to the force, saying, “your support has helped us immensely in achieving targets”
The Commandant further said there was need to strengthen infrastructure and communication systems in order to address evolving security challenges.
“Operationalising key naval facilities will improve our capacity to tackle maritime crimes.
“The Navy is committed to supporting the state in ensuring the safety and security of the waterways.
“We shall continue to promote peace while enabling the residents to carry out their lawful activities without fear,” he said.
The Agbura Community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has again lauded the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the Managing-Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, over infrastructure projects executed in the community.
Speaking with newsmen midweek in Yenagoa, its Chairman, Community Development Committee, Mr. Tribunal Egba, hailed the Governor for the successful completion of the abandoned Oxbow lake-Agbura Road project and others within the Community.
He also eulogized the NDDC MD for the construction of new lodge in the community for serving Corps members as well as plans to execute other projects.
Mr. Egba added that the completion of the Oxbow Lake-Agbura Road has given the community facelift, while also pleading with the government and the interventionist agency to award shore protection contract in the community to save it from the perennial floodings experienced in the fast urbanizing town.
Similarly, the community’s leadership has given assurances that it will continue to give priority to development and security of lives and property.
The CDC helmsman promised to strengthen the existing community vigilante group, while also stressing that the age-long synergy between the community and security agencies would be improved upon to get rid of crime and criminalities in the area.
“As a community, we’re so thankful to Governor Diri for constructing the abandoned Oxbow Lake-Agbura Road project. We’re also glad with the level of infrastructural development ongoing in other parts of the state, courtesy of the Diri-led administration.
“We also like to laud the MD/CEO, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for the construction of a befitting Corpers lodge for Corps members serving in this community.
“Our priority as a community now is to protect these infrastructure projects. We’ll continue to work in synergy with all security agencies to make sure there’s peace and development”, the CDC leadership said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Delta State Government has expressed deep sadness over the sudden death of Mr. Sunny Kotor, Senior Special Assistant on Protocol to the State Government.
Kotor, a renowned Master of Ceremony at state functions, reportedly slumped and passed away last Friday.
In a statement signed by the Delta State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, in Warri on Saturday, his passing was described as “a profound loss; not only to his family, but to the Government and people of Delta State who benefited immensely from his professionalism, composure, and unmistakable presence at official engagements.
“He brought dignity, structure, and excellence to every function he handled, leaving behind a standard that will be difficult to forget,” the statement added.
The Commissioner noted that “every passing is indeed a sobering reminder of how fragile and fleeting life can be,” extending heartfelt condolences to Kotor’s family, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of working with him.
The statement prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
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