Over the years, Nigeria has been embroiled in the battle against trafficking in human persons- a fight that has led to the establishment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Human Persons (NAPTIP) to help combat the scourge.
But, trafficking in persons has remained a national embarrassment, as the barons kept inventing new strategies to keep them afloat in the business and escape the long arm of the law.
A 2022 migration report noted that an estimated 750,000 to one million people are trafficked yearly in Nigeria. The report equally stated that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, and largest economy in the African continent, remains a major human trafficking source, transit and destination country.
The establishment of the NAPTIP in 2003 by the Federal Government was in response to the growing trend then. The agency was meant to develop and coordinate a national strategy to combat trafficking in persons. Regrettably, however, the Agency’s efforts at tackling the scourge, though commendable, have not been able to stem the tide as expected.
But, the government is not giving up on the fight as it has also continued to explore different avenues to ensure that the scourge became a thing of the past in the country’s body politic.
Recently, the reports of the maltreatment that Nigerians were subjected to in Libya, Niger and Chad drew the ire and condemnation of the Federal Government, especially as reports established that those Nigerians were victims of human trafficking.
However, in a move considered as strategic and tactical in the ongoing war against human trafficking, Nigeria has struck a partnership deal with France and Italy to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and other related crimes in Nigeria, and perhaps, within its borders
To achieve the goal, a Common Operational Partnership (COP) for the France-Italy-Nigeria project was signed in Abuja, recently, where the three countries earmarked €1.43 million to prosecute the joint operation against human trafficking. The operation which will run until June 2027 was co-funded by the European Union, EU.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, in his address, said the project aims to achieve two objectives. First is to enhance the capacity of the officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks, while protecting victims, and secondly, to strengthen regional and international cooperation against these crimes.
He explained that its methodology was practical and results-driven.
“It starts with a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by tailored training, equipment provision and daily mentoring. This approach builds trust and ensures sustainable impact.
“The European Commission’s Internal Strategy known as ProtectEU, also announced a new EU strategy on combating trafficking in human beings in 2026, with concrete actions to take into account the new trends and challenges. However, cooperation with countries of origin and transit of victims and traffickers will continue to be part of the new strategy,” he said.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, also said the partnership reflects strong commitment and shared conviction that human dignity knows no borders, and that combating human trafficking is not just a necessity, but a moral duty for all nations.
He maintained that human trafficking remains a silent but devastating scourge that destroys lives, tears families apart, and undermines the very foundations of societies’ existence, while its victims who are often women and children are exploited, abused, and deprived of their freedom.
The French Ambassador further noted that behind the human tragedies lie powerful, well-organised criminal networks, transnational, but also regional thriving on poverty, instability, and inequality. Hence, faced with such a global threat, no country can act alone.
“That is why France, together with Italy and Nigeria, has chosen to strengthen our operational collaboration by joining efforts, combining expertise, and pooling resources to dismantle these networks, protect victims, and prevent new tragedies.
“The project is both concrete and ambitious. It is action-oriented and forward-looking. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies, particularly the NAPTIP to improve information sharing, encourage joint investigations, and ensure coordinated support for victims.
“This initiative continues the commitments our countries have made within the framework of the United Nations, the EU, ECOWAS, and other international bodies where the fight against humán trafficking remains a top priority and a shared responsibility.
“But this project goes even further. It reflects our determination to act on the ground, side by side, in a spirit of mutual trust and shared responsibility.”
Earlier, Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, who was represented by Josiah Emerole, director of research and programme development in the agency, explained that the partnership represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate achievements and introduce evidence-based, context-specific approaches to tackling human trafficking and other related crimes in Nigeria.
She said the project is built around four key pillars, namely, joint needs assessment, training and mentoring, operational support, and geographic focus.
“The COP project also provides a comprehensive framework to enhance investigation, prosecution, and victim-centered interventions.
“Equally important, it will promote effective intelligence sharing, joint operations, and operational synergy among NAPTIP’s zonal commands and our regional partners in West Africa,” she stated.
She disclosed that the project will commence with pilot implementation in a few target States which includes Cross River, Osun, Katsina, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that are strategically positioned along high-risk trafficking and migration corridors.
“These routes have witnessed increasing volumes of irregular movement and emerging trafficking trends aimed at accessing developed countries. Hence, addressing these challenges requires coordinated and sustained action, which this initiative aptly supports.”
She commended the Government of France, CIVIPOL,a consulting company of the French Ministry of Interior, the Italian Ministry of Interior, the EU and all other partners for their unwavering support, technical expertise and steadfast commitment to the cause.
“Your collaboration reinforces the spirit of shared responsibility and global solidarity in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling,” she said.
The NAPTIP boss was, however, confident that through the COP project, the collective work against human trafficking will yield stronger investigations, more successful prosecutions, and better support for victims and survivors.
She also urged all the stakeholders to remain united and focused on their shared vision, insisting that “together, we can make the Common Operational Partnership not only a model of success for Nigeria but also a benchmark for regional cooperation and best practices across West Africa.”
The representatives of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and CIVIPOL also expressed hope that proper implementation of the COP Project will herald improved results as regards the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and beyond.
Reacting to the maltreatment of Nigerians in Libya and Niger Republic, the government lamented that it constantly receives calls from trafficked Nigerians, who want to return to the country.
Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, who stated this during a thematic webinar in Abuja recently assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to ensure that those trafficked were released and released.
He said: “We have experienced a lot of issues as a result of trafficking. When you go to Libya today, you see so many Nigerians that have been trafficked out of the country, through irregular ways.
“And we have been receiving calls, agitation, appeals, that we should please intervene. Of course, Nigeria is making an effort to ensure that those people that are there in Libya and other parts of the world are being returned back to the country.
“I think this is one of the major efforts that this Commission is making to ensure that those individuals who have been trafficked out of the country are returned back to the country.”
Ahmed, who is also the chairman of dialogue, announced that the government would come up with data of Nigerians who left in an irregular manner.
“But you see, this now brings the issue of data management. We need to know how many of them left this country in an irregular manner. That is why the issue of this data management comes up.
“And I think when we do not have the record; we will not get it right. We should be able to know how many people were there in Libya, how many people in Niger, how many people in Sudan, how many of them in Chad, and so on and so forth.
“Until we know the number of them and the data of those involved, I think that is when we will do our work right.
“And that is why we consider this thematic meeting, which is an issue on data management, very key, very important in solving the issue of migration governance,” he said.
However, the latest move which has seen Nigeria going into partnership with France and Italy has received reactions.
Speaking on the development, a migration expert and lead trainer at the reintegration training programme for the returned migrants in Nigeria, jointly sponsored by the IOM and the European Union, EU, Mr. Osita Osemne, lauded the partnership, noting that such a collaborative effort was what Nigeria needs at this point if it must win the fight against human trafficking.
Insisting that the government at all levels must put more efforts to stem the tide of irregular migration and human trafficking, Osemene lamented that the system was not doing enough to discourage the trend.
He, however, insisted that with the new partnership, massive campaigns against the scourge would be launched.
He spoke to DAILY POST in Lagos recently at reintegration training workshops for returnees.
He said: “One of the best ways to counter the trend of irregular migration and human trafficking is this international collaboration which Nigeria has just signed on to.
“Remember that a country like Italy is a major entry point for most trafficked persons who want to locate their way to other European countries like Spain, Germany, Portugal, France and others.
“So, partnering with Italy and France would be a master stroke in the fight against human trafficking.
“Apart from providing the finance to prosecute the war, such finance could also be deployed to resettling returnees to discourage them from further attempt at migrating irregularly.”
He warned that a group of returnees unattended to would always turn out to become dangerous human traffickers and smugglers.
“Check the history of traffickers and smugglers; all of them are people that have gone through that process. Somebody took them through the desert journey and they learnt the trade and began to recruit others from there,” he added.
He stated that apart from the partnership providing training for the returnees to enable them reintegrate into the society and live a normal life, the partnership could equally use the returned migrants as campaign advocates against irregular migration.
“We found out that these returned migrants are the best tools to discourage the trend because they know the traffickers, the trend and everything.
“So, we can make them ambassadors of human trafficking.
“We can use them after they have been successfully reintegrated into the society as advocates to ensure that others don’t go through what they have gone through; that is one of the ways I think the evil of human trafficking and irregular migration could be subdued,” he said.
“So, I commend the Federal Government for toeing this path of partnership with France and Italy. I believe that such combined efforts will boost the government’s efforts to halt the trend,” he said.
Also speaking, a migrant expert, Tayo Adenuga said traffickers succeed because most Nigerians are easily deceived into believing that one could only succeed by travelling out of the country.
He lamented that most people got disappointed eventually because when they get to their destination countries, the reality is always far from what they envisaged.
“So, this is the impression that NAPTIP and other government agencies including nongovernmental organizations have been struggling to correct among Nigerians, especially the youths.
“However, with this partnership with Italy and France, I am sure that money won’t be an issue anymore. In other words, the partnership would surely go a long way at tackling the menace of human trafficking.
“At least, the enlightenment campaign will be more robust and aggressive. And there will be a lot of empowerment programmes to discourage the returnees as well as those planning to migrate.
“In fact, I am happy at the latest development and I encourage the government to seek more of such collaborations with other countries.