Health and Safety

Human Trafficking: NAPTIP promises to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators

Published

8 months ago

October 19, 2022

Human Trafficking: NAPTIP promises to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Abuja reiterated its commitment to protect human trafficking victims, and prosecute perpetrators of the crime.

Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General, of NAPTIP, disclosed this at the 2022 European Union (EU) Anti-Trafficking Day, organised by Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP).

Also read: Human Trafficking: NIS rescues 9 victims in Jigawa

Waziri-Azi, who was represented by a Deputy Director of, the Public Enlightenment unit of the agency, Mr Ganiyu Agaran, said the agency would ensure that human trafficking victims were protected from fraudsters.

She said perpetrators would also be prosecuted, adding that government would ensure that victims were properly reintegrated, and rehabilitated with their needs taken care of.

According to her, ever since the ratification of the transnational organised crime convention, with its three attached protocols on trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants and illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms, the country had been on its feet.

“The fight against human trafficking in Nigeria has taken a very positive dimension; the country has since been at the forefront of tackling human trafficking and irregular migration in Africa.

“This has achieved great milestones with support from the EU members who have supported the UN system here in the country and other international development partners like UNODC, IOM, ICMPD, Expertise France, FIIAPP and ECOWAS.

“I commend the EU in Nigeria, through FIIAPP, for putting today’s event together as a way of reminding us of the present danger that trafficking in persons and irregular migration poses in our developmental efforts.’’

Waziri-Azi said human trafficking and irregular migration were age-long global pandemics that posed serious risks with viral consequences that fueled other crimes like drug trafficking and even money laundering.

She said innocent women and children representing the future of any society, were the major victims of human trafficking, “but this heinous crime deprives them of their freedom and dignity’’.

The EU team leader in Nigeria, Mr Reuben Alba, called for mobilisation of more resources to tackle the crime of human trafficking and irregular migration in Nigeria.

He said that the record showed that there were 21 million out-of-school children in Nigeria and that nine million of them were vulnerable victims of human trafficking.

Alba said that crime against humanity was about selling people and that this had destroyed what many have laboured for.

He said that stakeholders must continue to track down those eager to make a profit from the crime of selling their fellow human beings.

Mr Jose-Antonio Nsang, the FIIAPP Institutional Coordinator, said his organisaion would continue to support NAPTIP and other civil society organisations with capacity building to do their job better.

According to him, human trafficking criminals are everywhere, and that law enforcement agencies must employ technology devices to do their work in the fight against human trafficking.

He said that the programme marking the 2022 EU Anti-Trafficking day was a call to remind all organisations working against crime against humanity of their responsibilities.

Mr Osita Osemene, Head of Programme and National Secretary, of the Network of All Civil Society against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), said that the EU had done well in ensuring that prevention on issues of human trafficking was achieved to a great extent in Nigeria.

According to him, the EU is organising the day’s event to ensure that partners scale up their voices against the scourge, and to ensure they all come together in form of collaboration.

He disclosed that NACTAL was carrying out sensitisation Programmes throughout the states in Nigeria to commemorate the EU Anti-Trafficking day.

“The awareness is high, we are trying to measure up with what the traffickers are doing, and we are trying to build a system that will be proactive.

“We are trying to create a structure that will enable us win the war,” he said.

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Health and Safety

FG Targets July Completion For Collapsed Ijora Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2023

Maritime First

The Federal Government on Tuesday said ongoing rehabilitation of the Apapa-bound lane of the Marine Bridge near Ijora that collapsed in May would be completed in July.

Recall that the 544 deck-on-pile bridge caved in and was shut on May 17 after investigations revealed that vandals had flared and removed steel components beneath the infrastructure.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Keisha told NAN on telephone that the contractor was already on site fixing five panels of the bridge damaged by the vandals.

Keisha said although only one panel collapsed, a total of five were distressed and currently being demolished and rehabilitated simultaneously on alternative stretches.

She explained that after panels one and three were demolished and replaced, two, four, and five would be demolished and recast.

She said that method of reconstruction was being adopted to prevent a total collapse of the bridge,

adding that bridges are usually not continuous but cast in panels.

The Controller added that the repairs would be completed in July.

“It was discovered after inspection that five panels are in critical condition. Work has started with the demolition of alternate panels now. We will demolish panel one then we move to panel number three.

“When they cast one and three, they will come and demolish panel number one and two and four,” she said.

Panels are long stretches of the bridge deck connected by expansion joints.

Speaking on measures against future vandalism, she said a proposal had been made and submitted to dislodge all illegal occupants under bridges.

The Controller said the federal government was going to collaborate with the private sector on how to secure all open spaces underneath bridges to safeguard them.

Commenting on the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction/rehabilitation project, Keisha said work on the Otedola Bridge section would “be completed this weekend”.

She added that the contractor would therefore move to the Ojodu Berger Section and complete repairs by the end of July, all things being equal.

Health and Safety

Wasilat: Immigration Hands Over 18-year-old, Libya-bound Human Trafficking Girl To NAPTIP

Published

6 days ago

June 3, 2023

Maritime First

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) handed over an 18-year-old human trafficking victim to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Friday in Kebbi.

“The girl, who is from Oyo State, was arrested on Thursday on her way to Libya via Yauri and Sokoto.

“She said her name is Wasilat Yusuf and she was going to Libya on her sister’s invitation and assurance of a cleaning job.

“She has HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis test results with her.

“She said it was her sister who insisted that she must conduct the tests before leaving for Libya,’’ Comptroller of the NIS in Kebbi, Mrs. Rabi Bashir-Nuhu, said.

She wondered why in spite of all the opportunities that abound in terms of peace and security in Nigeria, anyone would go to Libya to work in spite of the security challenges in that country.

The NIS comptroller assured that it would not allow any suspicious character or person profiting from human trafficking to get through its net in Kebbi.

Wasilat confirmed to newsmen that she was going to Libya to get a cleaning job at her sister’s invitation.

“My sister is Biodun Yusuf, and she is living in Libya and sells clothes there.

“She invited me to come and get a cleaning job there,’’ she said.

***Adepoju Carol Wuraola, Acting Comptroller General, NIS***

Receiving the victim, the Head of Operation of NAPTIP in Kebbi, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku, said the agency would undertake a thorough investigation of the matter.

“We thank the NIS for making our job easier and we are going to investigate thoroughly.

“We are going to rehabilitate and counsel the victim and ensure that she is united with her parents or guardians,’’ he said.

Atiku also commended the NIS for collaborating with NAPTIP to eradicate human trafficking.

Health and Safety

Over 73m People In Philippines Suffer From Tooth Decay

Published

2 weeks ago

May 25, 2023

Maritime First

At least 73 million Filipinos suffer from dental caries, making the disease a “serious health concern” in the Southeast Asian country, the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

“Dental caries is a silent epidemic,” Manuel Vallesteros, a division chief at the DOH’s disease prevention and control bureau, said this after a committee hearing at the House of Representatives.

Vallesteros said the DOH data is based on the 2018 national health survey, noting that the number now is much higher compared to when the COVID-19 pandemic had restricted access to dental services for more than two years.

Merely for illustration…

He noted that eight of 10 Filipino children suffer from “childhood caries” or “decaying baby teeth” because they are fed with sweetened infant formula.

“The oral health status of Filipino children is alarming,” the DOH said, adding the oral disease “continues to be a serious public health problem” in the Philippines.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dental caries is a major global public health problem and the most widespread non-communicable disease.

– Xinhua