The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, says the agency rescued and received 21,181 victims of human trafficking In the last 20 years.
She made this disclosure when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Social Duties to defend the 2024 budget.
She stated that the agency would endeavour to assist victims for as long as they needed it, stressing that the procedure would take time and money.
She explained that NAPTIP assists victims with legal, medical, rehabilitative, and reintegration services.
Waziri-Azi stated that in 2022, “NAPTIP rescued and received 2, 748 victims, which was 1,274 more victims that were rescued in 2022.”
She added, “From January to November 2023, we have already rescued and received 2,200 victims.
“Our shelter in Lagos has so far received the highest number of victims, followed by Katsina because of the borders, Kano and FCT shelters.”
According to her, Benue State had the most rescued victims in 2021 and 2022, followed by Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kano, and Imo states.
She also informed the committee that for the first time, the agency had gotten a Lebanese man convicted of trafficking and exploiting Nigerian girls.
She stated that the NAPTIP 2023 budget authorized a total of N2 billion based on the envelope to the agency, while N3 billion was projected as total revenue for the institution in 2024.
She added that NAPTIP’s operational activities are dependent on non-profit organizations, which she believes is not sustainable.
