As we close the curtain on 2022, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our collaborating partners and diverse stakeholders and supporters for such an impactful year. I am extremely privileged to work alongside such dedicated, passionate and committed individuals.
This year proved that together we can progressively bring change to our communities and society. I have been inspired and I am appreciative of the willingness of all stakeholders to continue in the effort to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking in Nigeria.
This year, we achieved a lot of milestones and many firsts (you can access my one-year report here – DG’s one-year report ); we expanded our operational structures, and amplified momentum across the Agency’s 5 prong approaches of prevention, protection, prosecution, partnership and policy. With the support of our supervising Minister, 3 key policy documents were approved by the Federal Executive Council in February and March 2022 respectively and they are: The National Action plan on Human Trafficking (2022 – 2026); National Policy for the Protection and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons and the Protocol for Identification, Safe Return and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons.
In addition, with the assistance of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, we transcribed our key policy documents, laws and IEC materials into braille including the production of audio-visual materials for the hearing impaired and the blind. For the first time, 10% of our work force received mental health support to help them flourish in the present while feeling good about the future, with the capacity to handle stressful times and events in all areas of their professional lives.
The year 2022 has not been without challenges, for instance there was a surge in the reportage of human trafficking across the country and violence against persons in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We witnessed the emergence of new trends in human trafficking and the evolution of the antics used by human traffickers. The economic environment across the world definitely affected national and international response to crimes. However, in all the uncertainty we remained undaunted, persevered and strived. We recorded 79 convictions in 2022, the highest in a single year, since the establishment of NAPTIP in 2003.
In 2023 we intend to scale the successes recorded this year and strengthen already existing structures to achieve sustained success in the fight against human trafficking and violence against persons. We want to continue working with our amazing partners across the globe to design creative solutions for ways to better understand and tackle human trafficking. Thank you for your partnership and support over the past year and we look forward to continuing our collaboration next year. On behalf of the gallant Officers of NAPTIP, I wish you all good health, success, and happiness. May 2023 be extremely kind to you and yours.
Warm Regards,
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Dr. Fatima Waziri–Azi
Director – General
NAPTIP E-Digest is a monthly Newsletter to extend NAPTIP’s reach and continue to create awareness and sensitize the public on the activities of NAPTIP and the evils of human trafficking and violence against persons. It also projects various NAPTIP platforms for seeking help.