Introduction

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is the focal Agency for the fight against the scourge of human trafficking in all its ramifications. It is empowered by the law to amongst other functions provide an effective and comprehensive Legal and Institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of human trafficking and other related offences in Nigeria as well as the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, in the FCT.

The NAPTIP E-Digest is a platform created by the Director – General in line with her resolve to extend NAPTIPs reach and continue to create awareness and sensitize the public on the activities of NAPTIP and its partners; the ills of human trafficking and violence against persons and NAPTIP’s reporting channels.

2023 is a very pivotal year for the Agency as the Agency intends to build on the successes of the previous year to continue making giant strides in the fight against human trafficking and violence against persons.

In this month’s edition NAPTIP celebrates her Officers who exhibited exemplary and outstanding qualities in the year 2022. As part of the Director–General’s initiative to reward efficiency, hard work, commitment and productivity, the Staff Award and Recognition System (STARS) was founded. The photos of the proud awardees and categories of awards they got are showcased in this edition of the news digest.

We also celebrate our Director – General, Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi on her elevation and promotion to the rank of Professor of Law, by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), and also her award as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Sheth International Young Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Pittsburgh. This is well deserved and we say Congratulations to our Director – General.

Finally, as the Nigerian General elections draws close, we used the opportunity to remind the general public that Political Violence is a crime under section 23 and 24 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 and perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted. The general public are enjoined to report any incident of political violence within the FCT to NAPTIP.

Please enjoy the January edition of NAPTIP News Digest.

NAPTIP Director-General Marks the Climax of her Professional Career as an Academic and Researcher

Congratulations to our Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi for her promotion to the rank of Professor by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS. ) On the 17th of January 2023 the NIALS Governing Council chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman NIALS Governing Council, Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, approved the 2022 staff promotion as recommended by the Council’s Appointment and Promotion Committee with effect from 1st January, 2023.  This is a well-deserved elevation for our Director–General, hinged on demonstrated excellence as an academic, researcher, administrator, mentor to many young academics and community service.

Beyond this achievement, Prof Waziri-Azi was recently named the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Sheth International Young Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pennsylvania State-USA, her alma mata. The award was created by Dr. and Mrs. Jagdish N. Sheth to honor a member of the University of Pittsburgh alumni network who is committed to global endeavors. Among other things, the award recognizes Prof Waziri-Azi’s long-standing dedication to safeguarding the human rights of the marginalized, especially women and children; sustainable institutional reforms focused on people-centred access to justice; contribution to the fight against corruption; and remarkable impact since assumption of office as Director-General of NAPTIP. The formal award presentation is scheduled to hold on the 24th March, 2023 at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State-USA

Officers of NAPTIP are proud to have such a visionary Director-General and are constantly inspired by her.

Congratulations Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi!

NAPTIP 2022 Staff Award and Recognition System (Stars) of the Director General

The Staff Award and Recognition System (STARS) was initiated by the Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, in 2022 to encourage, recognize and promote the culture of hard work, and diligence in the workplace in line with the Public Service Rules 150102-150105. Through the Director General’s STARS initiative, it is hoped that more staff will be motivated to contribute and add value to the system. In furtherance to this, the Director General, Azi set up an Award Committee headed by Mrs. Susan B. Ewung, NAPTIP Director, of Special Duties Department.

The emergence of the final awardees were through the following stages: Call for nomination of deserving officers from different award categories; voting for best 3 Nominees; final selection of deserving awardees and formal presentation of Awards.

Categories of the Award:

A: Voting Category: All NAPTIP officers were invited to vote for the nominees in the categories after the nominations have been made and this include:

  1. Best officer of the year (Levels 07-15) across State Commands and Liaison Offices (1)
  2. Best officer of the year (Levels 03-06) across State Commands and Liaison Offices (1)
  3. Best officer of the year under each Zonal Command and Headquarters (10)

B: DG’s Special Category: this category was determined by the DG based on her Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

  1. DG’s special recognition Award (10)
  2. Best Management Staff of the Year (2)
  3. Best Head of Unit of the Year (2)

C: Most Punctual officers at the Headquarters (20)

D: The most active Officer on NAPTIP Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)

  1. Best Zonal Command of the Year (1)

The Award Ceremony was held on 23rd December 2022 during the ceremonial end-of-the-year Director General’s parade. In her remarks, The DG commended all awardees.  In the Department of the year category, the DG commended the Director of the Legal and Prosecution Department Mr. Tahir H.H, for the record-breaking convictions, 80 for the year 2022. The highest in a single year since the inception of the Agency. She also commended the Director of Public Enlightenment for the inauguration of fifty-four (54) Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons Vanguards in Federal Government Unity Schools across Nigeria, breaking the initial 2022 projection of 20.

For the award of the best NAPTIP Unit, the awardees were the Head of NAPTIP Intelligence and International Cooperation Unit, Angela Agbayekhai and Head of NAPTIP Rapid Response Unit, Magnus Emeh.

Prof Waziri-Azi also recognized the Kano Zonal Command as the best Command out of the Nine (9) Zonal Commands of the Agency for securing the highest number of convictions and for investigating a number of high-profile cases. The Zonal Commander Mr. Abdullahi Babale was commended for his outstanding leadership and hard work. Other officers were recognized for various contributions to the Agency’s success in 2023, some for their professionalism and commitment in helping victims, others for their outstanding investigative skills, prosecutorial skills, and punctuality to work, and others for going the extra mile in carrying out their duties amidst many risks and challenges, The Award also included the most resourceful NYSC member of the year which went to Idara J. Brown. The Director General encouraged all Corp Members posted to the Agency for their primary assignment to take their service year seriously and strive to make an impact.

Prof. Waziri also recognized the Cleaners who always keep the offices clean, the Police officers seconded to NAPTIP and the contract staff at the shelter working really hard at the shelter and encouraged officers to be kind and respectful in their dealings with them.

At the end of the Award ceremony, the DG encouraged all officers to take their duties very seriously and to see STARS as a way to encourage healthy competition, inspire positive work culture, and encourage professionalism.  In her final remark, “everyone worked hard, with the little resources we had, everyone put in their efforts, however, the STARS brings it down to turnovers, results, verifiable outcome and outputs”. The 2022 STARS Awardees went home with special recognition by the DG, Certificate of Recognition and Financial Rewards.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NAPTIP AHEAD OF 2023 GENERAL ELECTION!

Do you know that political violence is a crime under section 23 of the violence against persons (prohibition) act 2015?

🇳🇬 SECTION 23(1): If you commit political violence, you will be imprisoned for not more than 4 years or pay a fine of not more than N500,000.00 or you will go to prison and still pay N500,000

🇳🇬 SECTION 23(2): If you attempt to commit political violence you will be imprisoned for not more than 2 years or pay a fine of not more than N300,000.00 or you will go to prison and still pay N300,000

🇳🇬 SECTION 23(3): If you incite, aid, abet or counsel another person to commit political violence you will be imprisoned for not more than 2 years or pay a fine not more than N300,000.00 or you will go to prison and still pay N300,000

🇳🇬 SECTION 23(4): If you receive or assist another person you know committed political violence you have committed a crime and you will be imprisoned for not more than 2 years or pay a fine not more than N200,000.00 or you will go to prison and still pay N200,000

What then is political violence?

  • Political Violence involves:
  1. Thuggery
  2. Snatching or stealing of ballot boxes
  3. Violently attacking election officers
  4. Using force to disrupt meetings; or
  5. Using dangerous weapons that may cause bodily harm or injury
  • Attempting, Inciting, Aiding, Abetting or Counselling another person to commit Political Violence is a crime?
  • Harboring or Assisting in any form, any person that commits Political Violence is a Crime?
  • A State Actor or its Agent that commits political violence is liable?

Report any incident of political violence within the FCT to NAPTIP.

Listen to the Public Announcement

English Version

Pidgin English Version

Improved Enforcement and Prosecutorial Response to Trafficking In Persons: A Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, No 4 Of 2015

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) was established in July 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act 2003 (TIPPLEA). The Agency was established in fulfilment of Nigeria’s obligation under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Convention (UNTOC) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention (UNTOC), 2000. As such, it is the Federal Government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of trafficking in persons.

The 2003 TIPPLEA was amended in 2005 in a bid to further strengthen the Agency. However, in 2015, because of the emerging trends in the crime of trafficking in persons and the need to further strengthen the institutional framework and response to trafficking, the TIPPLEA Act of 2005 was repealed and re-enacted as the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 (TIPPEA). The TIPPEA Act 2015, is now the subject of further amendment at the National Assembly sponsored by the Chairman Honourable John Dyegh and members of House Committee on Human Rights.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat, force, abduction, fraud for the purpose of exploitation. Indeed, trafficking is an organised criminal enterprise with established structures and value chains. Just like any multi-billion-dollar enterprise, criminals in the business of trafficking continue to evolve, refining their operations and employing new tactics to traffik their victims. For example, because of COVID pandemic lockdown, there was a shift from physical recruitment of victims to remote recruitment methods via social media and fake job and scholarship advertorials. As such, the Agency must also keep up with the current trend and refine its strategies to enforce its anti-trafficking laws.

The proposed amendments to the Act include the inclusion and criminalization of orphanage trafficking which is an emerging trend in society; increase in the age of child work from 12 to 14 years. A 12-year-old is considered too young to work as a domestic worker as the child’s mental capacity is low and they are usually subjected to various forms of exploitations that are injurious, hazardous to the physical, social and psychological development of the child.; inclusion of a section to give effect to Nigeria’s obligation concerning trafficking in persons under international agreements; Institutionalization of the issuance of requisite clearance as provided for under Regulation 2019 to help control human trafficking in Nigeria.; widening the scope of exploitation; and provision of stiffer penalties

It is against this background that on Monday, 16th January 2023, the House of Representatives, and members of the House Committee on Human Rights hosted a public hearing that brought together anti-human trafficking stakeholders to present their submissions and observations on the proposed Bill for an Act to Amend the 2015 Trafficking Act.

Stakeholders that presented their submissions on the amendment of the Act included: The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL); Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; National Commission for Persons with Disability; National Human Rights Commission; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); and the Nigeria Bar Association.

Overall, the proposed amendments in the proposed Bill will reinforce the mandate of the Agency and help scale the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria, towards a nation free from human trafficking (and violence against persons). On January 26, 2023, the proposed bill was passed on the floor of the House of Representative and is scheduled to be sent to the Senate for concurrence.

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.

Previous Digests

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