The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human dignity and eliminating human trafficking, with the Attorney General of the Federation emphasizing President Bola Tinubu’s priority of strengthening the justice system and safeguarding Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja at the second policy meeting on human trafficking, the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Victoria Ojogbane, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, outlined ongoing efforts to boost victim protection and close critical gaps in Nigeria’s response to trafficking.
He stressed the need for enhanced cooperation among agencies combating trafficking, highlighting improved coordination, data-driven strategies and sustained collaboration as essential to tackling the crime more effectively nationwide.
Fagbemi noted that partnerships with law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations and international bodies were being strengthened to dismantle trafficking networks, restore hope to survivors and strengthen national counter-trafficking strategies.
He also announced the inauguration of Nigeria’s National Counter-Trafficking Dashboard, describing the digital platform as a major milestone that provides real-time data to improve coordination, transparency, accountability and evidence-based policy responses.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s Tier 2 ranking in the 2025 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, Fagbemi said the identified shortcomings should serve as motivation for concerted national action to achieve better ratings in future assessments.
UNODC representative, Cheikh Taure, reaffirmed the agency’s long-standing collaboration with Nigeria, noting its technical support for national strategies on trafficking and migrant smuggling through partnerships funded by Switzerland, the European Union and other stakeholders.
Taure said the policy meeting provided a platform for leaders across federal and state institutions to review progress, set new priorities and strengthen data-driven and coordinated responses to trafficking and smuggling in Nigeria.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu-Bello, said the meeting had become a strategic platform for evaluating national anti-trafficking efforts, identifying challenges and shaping future initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking.
She highlighted the inauguration of Anti-Trafficking and Violence Prevention Vanguards in 35 schools in 2025, raising the total number to 223, and said the groups serve as early-warning networks that support prevention efforts.
Adamu-Bello added that new handbooks, operating procedures and reporting tools under the schools-based anti-trafficking project had strengthened awareness, pledging NAPTIP’s continued commitment to eliminating trafficking through robust partnerships with domestic and international allies.
