By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja
In its commitment to tackling issues of human trafficking in Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria.

The approval of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking which is between 2022 to 2026 is a major breakthrough in the efforts of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and its supervising Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in curtailing incidences of human trafficking in the Country and also a commendable determination by Government in addressing the global phenomenon.

According to Adekoye Vincent of the Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP that the latest development came following a Memorandum submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.

It would be recalled that Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Supplementing Protocol to suppress, Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000).

Further to the establishment of NAPTIP as the institutional response to trafficking in Persons, Nigeria adopted a multi-sectoral response and all-inclusive approach, to strengthen the policy framework and response to Human Trafficking by developing its first National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2009 – 2012).

The newly approved National Action Plan provides the national blueprint for coordination of anti-trafficking interventions in Nigeria and ensure greater efficiency in the utilization of intervention funds from all stakeholders, align strategic anti-trafficking actions in Nigeria with international standards and to strengthen coordination, implementation and evaluation mechanisms for anti-human trafficking actions in Nigeria.

The National Action Plan is also designed to foster collaboration among stakeholders for greater effectiveness and efficacy in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and to set year on year bench-marks for stakeholders’ implementation and provide a basis for evaluation of the level and success of implemented activities.

Speaking on the development, Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri – Azi, explained further that the “National Action Plans is a national policy document that will further demonstrate Nigeria Government commitment to its international obligation under the UNTOC as it also incorporates various emerging trends, and establishes a robust coordination, implementation and evaluation mechanism.

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Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and all members of the Federal Executive Council for the approval granted the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022- 2026) describing the action of the FEC as a major boost to the fight against human trafficking in the Country.

The NAPTIP Director General also thanked the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq for her sustained support to the Agency, other partners who worked tirelessly to make the National Action Plan a reality and the Government of Switzerland who funded the development of the National Action Plan with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).