By George Mgbeleke<\/p>\n
The Nigerian Senate has approved recommendations to strengthen anti-trafficking laws, investigate suspected trafficking networks, increase funding for relevant agencies and establish a national reintegration programme for Nigerians rescued from human trafficking and exploitation abroad.<\/p>\n
The recommendations followed the consideration of a joint report by the Senate Committees on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Foreign Affairs, and Special Duties on the urgent need to protect Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and human rights abuses in Libya.<\/p>\n
Presenting the report, Senator Anthony Yaro, who represents Gombe South and is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, said the committees had consulted stakeholders and examined the issues raised in a motion on the subject.<\/p>\n
He said the recommendations were designed to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s response to human trafficking, improve protection for victims and disrupt criminal networks responsible for the exploitation of Nigerians.<\/p>\n
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, subsequently led the chamber in considering and approving the recommendations.<\/p>\n
Under the resolutions, the Senate called for a review and stronger enforcement of existing anti-trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and the Child Rights Act 2003.<\/p>\n
It also urged the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant agencies to investigate suspected trafficking networks and travel agencies allegedly involved in the recruitment and exploitation of Nigerians abroad.<\/p>\n
The proposed investigations are expected to examine recruitment networks, financial transactions, travel arrangements and other evidence that could help identify and prosecute those responsible.<\/p>\n
The Senate further recommended increased funding for NAPTIP and other relevant agencies to improve their capacity to investigate and prosecute offenders and provide assistance to victims.<\/p>\n
It also called on the Federal Government to establish a national reintegration and protection programme for returning victims, to be coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in collaboration with NAPTIP.<\/p>\n
On international cooperation, the Senate urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to intensify diplomatic engagement with Libya to combat human trafficking, modern-day slavery and irregular migration.<\/p>\n
The proposed cooperation would focus on intelligence sharing, improved border management, dismantling trafficking networks, protecting vulnerable migrants and facilitating the repatriation of victims.<\/p>\n
Akpabio recounts rescue of trafficked children<\/p>\n
During deliberations, Akpabio broadened the discussion beyond Nigerians trafficked to Libya, recounting a case involving three children allegedly abducted in Akwa Ibom State and moved through several locations before their rescue by the police.<\/p>\n
According to the Senate President, the children were taken to Aba, Katsina and Lagos as traffickers allegedly attempted to sell them before moving them across the border to Ghana.<\/p>\n
He said the children had been missing for approximately 93 days before the police traced their movements and rescued them.<\/p>\n
Akpabio commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for their roles in the recovery operation.<\/p>\n
He also said he had directed the police to arrange a meeting with the eldest child, who reportedly warned prospective buyers that the Senate President was searching for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve promised myself that when I see the child, I will give that child scholarship to university level,\u201d Akpabio said.<\/p>\n
The Senate President said the case demonstrated the need to strengthen security measures and improve public awareness of human trafficking and child abduction.<\/p>\n
He warned that trafficking was not limited to international destinations, noting that children were also being abducted and moved between states within Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Senate President seeks stricter tenancy laws<\/p>\n
Akpabio called for stronger tenancy regulations to ensure that landlords and property managers maintain verifiable records of their tenants.<\/p>\n
He proposed a system he described as \u201cKnow Your Tenant\u201d, drawing a comparison with the Know Your Customer requirements used in the financial sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis one we can say, know your tenant. Let\u2019s make the necessary law for the FCT, for instance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He argued that proper identification and registration of tenants could assist security agencies in tracing suspects when crimes were committed.<\/p>\n
The Senate President also called for the regulation of short-let accommodation, insisting that occupants should provide valid means of identification to make it easier to investigate criminal activities linked to rented properties.<\/p>\n
He said the National Assembly should explore appropriate legislation for the Federal Capital Territory, while state governments and Houses of Assembly could consider similar measures within their jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
Akpabio further urged lawmakers to strengthen the enforcement of existing anti-trafficking and child-protection laws rather than rely solely on passing new legislation.<\/p>\n
Tambuwal advocates registration of tenants and properties<\/p>\n
Former Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, told the Senate that he had previously supported legislation to strengthen the registration of tenants and rental properties.<\/p>\n
He said a bill he initiated while serving as Speaker was circulated to state Houses of Assembly but was not passed by them.<\/p>\n
According to Tambuwal, a similar proposal was subsequently enacted in Sokoto State during his tenure as governor, establishing a Rent Control and Management Commission with provisions for registering tenants and properties available for rent.<\/p>\n
He urged the Senate to examine the law and consider encouraging other states to establish similar mechanisms.<\/p>\n
Tambuwal said such measures could strengthen security checks and help authorities trace individuals suspected of committing crimes from rented properties.<\/p>\n
Senators warn against weak enforcement<\/p>\n
Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District, said the effectiveness of anti-trafficking measures would depend largely on the enforcement of existing laws.<\/p>\n
He noted that some states already had legislation regulating tenancy but questioned whether the provisions were being adequately implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue for me, and I think that is the main issue, is enforcement of our laws,\u201d Imasuen said.<\/p>\n
He called for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that trafficking, kidnapping and other serious offences were thoroughly investigated and that cases did not disappear from public attention without clear outcomes.<\/p>\n
Imasuen also urged authorities to ensure that investigations and prosecutions were pursued transparently.<\/p>\n
Senator Babangida Hussaini, representing Jigawa North-West, informed the chamber that Lagos State had operated a tenancy law since 2012, suggesting that existing provisions could provide a reference point for other jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
Senators call for wider public awareness<\/p>\n
Akpabio also urged the National Orientation Agency and other relevant institutions to intensify public education on the dangers of human trafficking.<\/p>\n
He said some victims were deceived with promises of education, employment and better living conditions before being exploited abroad.<\/p>\n
The Senate President recounted cases in which young Nigerians were allegedly recruited under the pretext of securing jobs overseas but were subsequently forced into prostitution after their travel documents were confiscated.<\/p>\n
He urged families to exercise caution when approached with offers of overseas employment and educational opportunities that could expose their children to exploitation.<\/p>\n
Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, said state governments also had an important role to play in addressing the problem.<\/p>\n
He argued that public awareness campaigns should be accompanied by efforts to create employment opportunities for young people within Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue you talk about shall not be left to the National Orientation Agency alone,\u201d Aliero said, adding that state governments should educate young people about fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes.<\/p>\n
He maintained that improving access to employment at home could reduce the pressure on young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad through potentially dangerous channels.<\/p>\n
Oshiomhole calls for action on international trafficking networks<\/p>\n
Senator Adams Oshiomhole also contributed to the discussion, stressing that human trafficking should be treated as an international problem involving both the countries from which victims are recruited and those in which they are exploited.<\/p>\n
He argued that efforts to curb trafficking should address not only the recruitment of vulnerable Nigerians but also the demand that sustains exploitation in destination countries.<\/p>\n
Oshiomhole recalled discussions with Italian officials on the trafficking of Nigerian women and girls, arguing that destination countries must take responsibility for addressing the demand for sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n
He maintained that Nigeria should strengthen domestic enforcement while engaging foreign governments to dismantle the networks that facilitate trafficking across borders.<\/p>\n
The Senate\u2019s resolutions seek to combine stronger legislation, better-funded enforcement agencies, victim rehabilitation, public awareness and international cooperation in tackling trafficking and exploitation.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers also stressed the need for coordinated action by federal and state governments to protect vulnerable Nigerians, prevent recruitment through deceptive promises and ensure that returning victims receive adequate support to rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By George Mgbeleke The Nigerian Senate has approved recommendations to strengthen anti-trafficking laws, investigate suspected trafficking networks, increase funding for relevant agencies and establish a national reintegration programme for Nigerians rescued from human trafficking and exploitation abroad. The recommendations followed the consideration of a joint report by the Senate Committees on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-law-crime","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19097,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19096\/revisions\/19097"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}