Reps seek stronger action against human trafficking

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…Demand Better Support for Repatriated Nigerians

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By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

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The House of Representatives has renewed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s response to human trafficking, calling for closer collaboration among government agencies, international partners and civil society organisations to ensure the safe repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked Nigerians rescued from Mali and other West African countries.

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The call was made on Wednesday at a high-level stakeholders’ technical meeting organised by the House Committee on Humanitarian Services in Abuja.

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Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, said Nigeria must go beyond repatriating trafficking victims by providing sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration programmes that would prevent survivors from falling victim to trafficking again.

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She lamented that thousands of Nigerians, particularly women, children and young people, continue to be trafficked across West Africa for forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of modern slavery.

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According to her, many victims endure abuse and deprivation before becoming stranded in foreign countries without legal protection or access to basic services.

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“Behind every statistic is a human story. Trafficking is not merely a migration issue; it is a grave violation of human rights and an assault on human dignity that demands a coordinated national response,” she said.

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Akande-Sadipe noted that recent government interventions, including the evacuation of vulnerable Nigerians from South Africa and the Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and Ethiopia on the transfer and management of Nigerian prisoners, underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation and diplomatic engagement in protecting Nigerians abroad.

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She stressed that successful reintegration must include healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance, education, vocational training, family reunification and sustainable economic opportunities.

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The lawmaker pledged that the House would continue to provide the legislative, policy and oversight framework needed to strengthen humanitarian response systems, improve institutional coordination and ensure adequate funding for agencies responsible for protecting vulnerable Nigerians.

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She urged participants to develop practical recommendations based on the internationally recognised pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-trafficking framework.

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Meanwhile, the National Council of Child Rights Advocates, Nigeria (NACCRAN), presented findings from its work on the trafficking and exploitation of Nigerian girls in Mali and other West African countries.

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Presenting the report, NACCRAN’s Operations Consultant on Diaspora Issues, Prince Adefioye Gbolagade Simeon, said the organisation’s 11-month fact-finding mission in Mali identified concerns relating to the repatriation process, documentation of Nigerian migrants and the welfare of rescued victims.

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He alleged that some officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Mali, alongside certain Nigerians based in the country, were involved in questionable practices surrounding the rescue and repatriation of trafficked victims.

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According to him, some rescued girls remained at the embassy for extended periods while awaiting repatriation through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), despite funds reportedly being collected to facilitate their return to Nigeria.

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Simeon also alleged that several rescued girls reported physical and emotional abuse after refusing prostitution, while many Nigerian migrants paid between 10,000 and 15,000 CFA francs for identification cards that were allegedly not recognised at border checkpoints.

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He further claimed that some embassy officials and external collaborators exploited vulnerable Nigerians and intimidated humanitarian workers who sought to expose the alleged misconduct.

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The consultant said petitions had been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Senate President and relevant committees of the National Assembly, but maintained that many of the issues remained unresolved.

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He, however, commended the intervention of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, saying its engagement led to the deployment of a Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs fact-finding team to Mali in July 2025.

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According to him, with the committee’s continued support, NACCRAN successfully repatriated more than 10 underage Nigerian girls between September and December 2025, with several victims handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and reunited with their families.

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Simeon urged the committee to investigate the management of repatriation activities at the Nigerian Embassy in Mali, strengthen coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NAPTIP, security agencies and civil society organisations, and develop a comprehensive policy framework to protect Nigerian girls and women from trafficking across West Africa.

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He also appealed for official authorisation and letters of introduction to enable NACCRAN to continue humanitarian rescue operations in Mali and other West African countries.

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The meeting brought together lawmakers, officials of government ministries, development partners, diplomatic missions, security agencies, international organisations and humanitarian experts to discuss strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s response to human trafficking and improving protection for vulnerable citizens abroad.

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