Rep urges FG, states to intensify anti-trafficking awareness

Domestic legislator Dominic Okafor has urged the Nigerian federal and state governments to ramp up anti-trafficking awareness efforts. Reflecting on a recent journey to the Middle East, Okafor expressed alarm at the rising cases of human trafficking involving vulnerable Nigerian citizens. While current laws exist to combat this issue, he emphasized that more must be done in terms of implementation.

Okafor argued that the motion he moved aims to raise awareness and prompt action not just at the national level, but also among sub-national governments. He recounted an incident aboard Ethiopian Air, where he noticed several young women traveling together. Upon arriving in Addis Ababa for a layover, Okafor expressed concern after learning their reasons for journeying appeared to be driven by employment prospects.

He stressed that the motion's purpose is to educate the public about the dangers of human trafficking, particularly targeting children, women, and other vulnerable populations. Okafor described human trafficking as a significant national and international crisis, noting that poverty, unemployment, insecurity, displacement, irregular migration, and criminal networks exacerbate the vulnerability of many Nigerians.

The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to intensify nationwide anti-trafficking efforts, including enforcing existing laws, conducting intelligence-led investigations, and prosecuting offenders. Additionally, the House urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to support victim identification, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs, with special attention to women, children, and other vulnerable individuals.