The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ikeja Branch, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have jointly called for greater collaboration among government agencies to strengthen the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
This call was made during a one-day training session organized by the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee of FIDA Ikeja Branch in partnership with NAPTIP, held recently in Lagos.
The training, themed “Strengthening Partnership in Combating Human Trafficking,” emphasized the urgent need for collective efforts to tackle the growing menace.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of FIDA Ikeja, Mrs. Nnenna Eze, stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation.
“What we are doing today is a form of partnership because from the training today we discovered that NAPTIP has been doing a lot. If other government agencies come together to form partnerships, it will strengthen the fight against human trafficking,” Eze said.
She further explained that synergy among governmental bodies, civil society organizations, and NAPTIP would significantly enhance progress in eradicating trafficking. Eze noted that the training aimed to enlighten FIDA members about the rising tide of human trafficking and the need for strategic action.
“Most of the cases we handle at FIDA’s legal clinic involve domestic and sexual violence, which are intricately linked to trafficking,” she stated, recounting her interactions with victims who returned from trafficking experiences abroad.
Mrs. Caroline Ibeh, Chairperson of the Training Committee and former Vice Chairperson of FIDA Badagry Branch, described the session as a critical eye-opener.
“Human trafficking is not just about prostitution; it can happen anywhere,” she said. “The laws exist, but enforcement remains weak, especially when influential individuals are involved.”
Ibeh called on government authorities to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, stressing that accountability should apply to everyone regardless of status.
Mr. Fred Oko, the facilitator from NAPTIP and Head of the Public Enlightenment Unit at the Lagos Zonal Command, delivered an insightful session on the dimensions and dynamics of human trafficking. He noted that
“Trafficking in persons was relatively unknown until the late 1980s, but today it generates between $32 and $150 billion yearly with over 27 million victims globally.”
Oko highlighted control tactics traffickers use — such as oath-taking, debt bondage, emotional abuse, and intimidation — and discussed forms of trafficking including sexual exploitation, illegal adoption, forced labour, domestic servitude, and forced begging. He also warned that it is a criminal offense to engage a child under 12 years old as a domestic servant.
The training ended with a renewed commitment among FIDA members to apply the knowledge gained and work closely with NAPTIP and other agencies to protect vulnerable populations and dismantle trafficking networks.
