The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported rescuing and receiving 21,181 victims of human trafficking over a 20-year period.
Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General of NAPTIP, disclosed this information during her appearance before the Senate Committee on Social Duties to defend the agency’s 2024 budget.
Waziri-Azi highlighted the agency’s commitment to supporting victims for as long as necessary, acknowledging the time and financial resources required for this process.
NAPTIP provides comprehensive assistance, including legal aid, medical support, rehabilitation, and reintegration for trafficking victims.
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In 2022, NAPTIP rescued and received 2,748 victims, marking a substantial increase of 1,274 compared to the previous year.
From January to November 2023, the agency recorded 2,200 rescues, with shelters in Lagos hosting the highest number, followed by Katsina, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Benue State led in the number of rescued victims in 2021 and 2022, followed by Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kano, and Imo states.
Waziri-Azi reported on NAPTIP’s prosecutorial achievements, highlighting that in 2022, the agency secured 80 convictions, the highest in any single year since its inception.
In the ongoing year, NAPTIP has already obtained 63 convictions, including that of a high-level trafficker responsible for trafficking 12 girls to Belgium for exploitation.
For the first time, the agency secured the conviction of a Lebanese individual involved in trafficking and exploiting Nigerian girls.
Over the past two decades, NAPTIP has achieved 639 convictions, with a notable case involving the extradition of a high-profile trafficker, Charity Omoye, to Italy to serve a 13-year sentence in collaboration with international agencies.
The increased visibility and activities of NAPTIP have posed challenges, leading to a surge in human trafficking complaints.
In 2022, the agency received 1,462 complaints, reflecting a 31.9% increase from 2021.
This surge has strained both human and financial resources, prompting concerns about the sustainability of relying on donor organizations for operational support.
The 2023 budget allocated N2 billion to NAPTIP, while the projected total revenue for 2024 is N3 billion.
The committee assured that an oversight visit would be conducted to assess NAPTIP’s activities, and efforts would be made to address budgetary allocations, recognizing the organization’s crucial role in society.
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