National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Federal Ministry of Women Affairs have joined forces to fight against human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and children.
Minister for Women affairs, Pauline Tallen, made this known while playing host to the recently appointed Director General of NAPTIP, Imaan Ibrahim, who led some of the agency’s senior management staff on a solidarity visit to the ministry.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press in the ministry, Shehu Maikai, Tallen said the ministry was willing to develop a robust working strategy aimed at ameliorating hardship experience by women and children. She urged the authorities of NAPTIP to cash-in on the experience garnered by her ministry over the years to achieve its mandate.
“In the area of human trafficking, women and children are worse hit, and that is why our ministry worked very hard for promulgation of VAPP, and Child Rights Acts.
“If NAPTIP and the ministry work together, both organisations would be in a better position to checkmate all incidents of women trafficking, prostitution and child labour,” she said.
The minister said the outbreak of coronavirus had increased cases of incest and child molestation by parents in the country. “It is disheartening to note that biological parents took advantage of their wards during the COVID-19 lockdown,” Tallen lamented.
She called on parents, especially male parents, to exercise restrain and stop abominable behaviour so that God would see the country through all security challenges and economic hardship.
Director-general of NAPTIP said she visited the minister to solicit for good working relationship with the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“You will agree with me that the articles of trade in human trafficking are women and children. It is, therefore, important for my organisation to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Women Affairs so that together we shall succeed,” Ibrahim said.
According to her, areas of collaboration include economic empowerment programmes for women and children; training of personnel and advocacy visits, she said.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Anthonia Ekpa, promised to set up a committee made up of staff of the ministry and NAPTIP to develop strategies and modalities for the two organisations to achieve much for women and children.
