Stakeholders have called for improved collaboration, survivor inclusion and grassroots awareness in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
The event, held under the Stakeholders Knowledge Exchange, Engagement and Partnerships (SKEEP) platform, brought together researchers, officials and civil society groups.
It was held in Abuja with the theme ‘A Collaborative Response to Human Trafficking in Nigeria’.
Speaking at the event, Josiah Emerole, Director of Research and Programme Development at NAPTIP, who represented the Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, said the agency which operates on five pillars – policy, prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership – had received over 13,000 cases, made over 11,000 arrests, and secured 721 convictions.
“We have over 40 shelters across the country,” he added.
Emerole said, “Many judges are not trained on the Trafficking in Persons Act. That affects conviction rates,” he said. “We need more training for judges.”
He added that NAPTIP has integrated anti-trafficking content into school curricula and is working with other agencies to improve coordination.
Also speaking, Engr Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi, who represented the CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the fight against human trafficking required joint efforts at all levels.
“There is a need to strengthen the special victims’ unit in our police stations,” he said, adding that “They can work with NAPTIP in all the 774 local government areas.”
“We must take sensitisation to the grassroots. That is where it matters most,” he said.
He added that synergy among MDAs and CSOs is necessary for effective messaging and response.
“There must be a unified voice. All stakeholders must speak with one message,” he said.
Bassi also called for more involvement from the private sector.
He urged lawmakers to take active roles in the anti-trafficking campaign, especially in the areas of legislation and budgeting.
“If the parliament does not budget for it, nothing will happen,” he said. “We need the National Assembly to stay involved.”
Dr Margaret Ebubedike, a research fellow at the Open University, UK, said policies are often made without consulting survivors.
“Survivors are often left out. Policies are designed without their input,” she said. “Our goal is to create space where knowledge is shared, not extracted.”
She said the SKEEP framework was developed to improve collaboration among researchers, institutions, and local communities.
“We have worked with over 110 stakeholders in Nigeria,” she said.
She added that most survivors are women and girls, yet few are involved in planning their reintegration.
“People decide for them. But we don’t ask what they want,” she said.
Dr Saraswati Dawadi, also from the Open University, said similar gaps exist in other countries.
“In Nepal, all rescued girls were placed in tailoring programmes. None of them had a say,” she said. “Some wanted ICT training. Some wanted to learn English.”
She said more follow-up is needed after survivors leave shelters.
“There is little follow-up. Once girls leave shelters, we don’t know what happens to them,” she said.
Ebubedike called for the creation of a dedicated parliamentary forum on human trafficking in Nigeria.
“In Uganda, there is a Parliamentary Forum on Human Trafficking. It helps MPs push for direct funding and targeted laws. Nigeria needs something similar,” she said.
