The Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition in Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, has lamented the weak anti-trafficking laws currently in operation in the country, saying sale of new babies is on the increase.
According to Jedy-Agba, the perpetrators of child trafficking are abusing adoption process, using unsuspecting victims for forced labour and prostitution.
Jedy-Agba, who spoke during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, therefore, stressed the need to strengthen the relevant laws by providing stiffer penalties.
The Agency’s investigation into increasing cases of sale of babies in some parts of the country, she said, revealed that adoption process is being grossly abused.
She therefore called on State Governments to work towards the implementation of the Child’s Rights Act by domesticating it.
The NAPTIP boss also urged the state Ministries of Women Affairs and other related agencies to closely monitor the adoption processes and oversight organisations authorized to work on child related matters.
On what is being done to arrest the situation, she said: “This year, NAPTIP hopes to increase engagement with representatives of destination countries, partners and sister law enforcement organizations within and outside the country to forge close ties that will yield better cooperation and sustainable response to this fight.”
According to Jedy-Agba, the agency in 2013 proposed an amendment to the NAPTIP enabling Act to the National Assembly with a view to blocking the lapses.
She opined that the amendment, if passed, would bring the nation’s anti-trafficking legislation in conformity with the trafficking in persons protocol, including clearer definition of the offences, removing the option of fine and increasing penalty for traffickers.
On the achievements recorded so far, the NAPTIP boss said the agency recorded 220 convictions, of which 46 convictions were secured in 2013.
She disclosed that 442 cases were reported to NAPTIP with 272 cases successfully investigated while 101 other cases are still pending in various courts in the country.
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