NATIONAL AGENCY FOR PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC IN PERSONS AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS (NAPTIP) AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA.

Abstract

Human trafficking is a serious problem globally. In Africa and particularly Nigeria, trafficking in humans has entered a critical phase, given the diversity of human trafficking variants such as international trafficking, intra-continental and domestic trafficking. The large number of human trafficking cases in Nigeria led to the importance of an integrated institutional response towards addressing the widespread and endemic nature of human trafficking in Nigeria. The essence of an institutional approach to addressing human trafficking stems from the need to strengthen societal and collective approaches against trafficking. At the forefront of the anti-trafficking agenda in Nigeria is the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP). NAPTIP, since its establishment in 2003, the institution has been at the forefront of instituting a sustainable anti-trafficking agenda through the prosecution of traffickers, assisting victims of trafficking and engaging in awareness programmes to enlighten Nigerians on the crisis attached to human trafficking. Hence, since its inception up until 2016, NAPTIP has received 4620 cases, investigated 3376, rescued 10,470 victims, and convicted 311 traffickers. It is from this premise that the article examines the role of NAPTIP vis-à-vis the human trafficking crisis in Nigeria. The article employs qualitative and quantitative research methods and relies on secondary data from books, journals and NAPTIP publications.