RESEARCH & PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
They are hereby availed to you for your further actions.
i. Mandate of the Department
The mandate of the Department covers mainly research and Programme Developing. The Research Unit of the Department embarks on Research and Data collection to unearth the factors sustaining trafficking in persons and providing imputs for policy formulation and implementation aimed at tackling TIP in Nigeria. Programme Development Unit helps the Agency achieve its mandate of developing, monitoring and evaluating various programmes to tackle Traffic in Persons and other related crimes in Nigeria. It is pertinent to note that like other department of the Agency the Research and Programme Development Department has stream-lined its duties and functions to contribute meaningfully to fight the menace of trafficking in persons and other related matters which is the mandate of the Agency.
ii. Methods of Operation
The Department being research and programme development based, operates using Data Collections and analysis method to arrive at expected results. Continuous capacity building of departmental staff on relevant fields of study is always adopted for the enhancement of performance towards increased productivity. The Department collaborates with stakeholders for exchange of ideas and brain storms on issues affecting not only the Department, but the Agency at large.
iii. Activities of the Department
On the directive of the then President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), Prof. Sola Ehindero a renowned scholar and expert on human trafficking from Obafemi Awolowo University was commissioned to carry out a research on the root causes of human trafficking which answers the question of “Why Trafficking in Person”? This research work was aimed at discovering the root causes of human trafficking and the outcome as a base for policy formulation in the fight against human trafficking. The research work has since been completed with the publication of the outcome entitled “Dynamics and Contexts of Trafficking in Persons. A National Perspective”.
The department also supervised the “field assessment exercise” carried out in eleven southern states of Nigerian in collaboration with UNICEF under the Anti Child Trafficking Network” – a project donated by the United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotic and Law Enforcement Affairs. The states included Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Akwa – Ibom, Cross – River and Rivers. It is worthy to note that such an assessment project had also been donated by UNICEF and carried out in eleven Northern states of Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara. These states both in the south and north were considered endemic in human trafficking activities. The report of these projects had been published and circulated among stakeholders.
The Agency being the arrow head of the fight against human trafficking in the country, through the department, carried out field visits to States Ministries of Women Affairs Nigeria, Police and Immigration Services State Commands to collate data on human trafficking. This is an ongoing exercise which will be done annually to collate data to update the Agency’s data base on TIP in line with the ECOWAS Plan of Action and the ECCAS/ECOWAS Joint Plan of Action on TIP.
The department, in collaboration with ILO, carried out a survey in four border states of Benue, Taraba, Borno and Sokoto to ascertain the incidence of human trafficking between the Republic of Cameroon and Nigeria. In the quest to really fight the root causes of trafficking in persons, the department, in collaboration with the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of offenders (UNAFRI) carried out research to this effect in Benin city – Edo state. Edo was chosen because of high concentration of trafficked victims repatriated from Europe.
On its programme development activities, the department in liaison with the Federal Ministry of Justice set up the SERVICOM unit in line with the Federal Government directive on efficient and quality service delivery in the public sector. The department also established a functional library though development is on-going through collection of books donated by development partners. The library serves members of staff and research scholars on human trafficking.
The department has also been anchoring the quarterly meetings of the National Consultative Forum of Stakeholders where through synergy, all efforts and resources were properly channeled to avoid duplication and wastage in the fight towards the eradication of human trafficking. The forum has membership drawn from the office of the Special Assistant to Mr. President on Human Trafficking. Ministries of Women Affairs at both the Federal and States levels, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Ministry of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Nigeria Immigration Services, the Nigeria Police, National Human Rights Commission, ECOWAS, ILO/IPEC, IOM, UNODC, UNICEF, WOTCLEF etc.
The department worked assiduously with other stakeholders to conclude work on the draft National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons. The draft has been submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval as a National Policy on TIP. This is in line with the ECOWAS initial Plan Action and the Joint ECOWAS/ECCAS Plan of Action adopted in Abuja during the Ministerial Conference.
The department in liaison with Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit in the Presidency (BMPIU) facilitated the acquisition of the Agency’s Headquarters complex at plot 2028 Dalaba Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja and the Abuja Shelter for rescued victims of human trafficking at Gwarimpa. Also the Agency’s zonal office complex in Ikeja, Lagos as well as procurement of capital items.
Contact Person: Olubiyi Olusayo
Email: olubiyi@naptip.gov.ng
Phone: 07084305304, 08091110167