National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has vowed to tackle illegal recruitment of unsuspecting Nigerians for sexual and labour exploitation in foreign countries.
The information is in a statement signed by Stella Nezan, the Head, Press and Public Relations unit of the agency on Thursday in Abuja.
Nezan stated that the resolution was reached at the first inaugural meeting of the Board of the agency, presided over by the Chairman, Abubakar Gotomo.
According to her, the board also promised to interface with the leadership of recruitment agencies in Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Labour and other relevant agencies to stem human trafficking.
She added: “The move was also to curtail the disturbing phenomenon which brought pains and agonies to many trafficked victims.”
She said that the board chairman expressed sadness over the activities of self-acclaimed licenced recruitment agencies who continued to ship innocent Nigerians abroad for exploitative purposes.
She quoted him as saying “I want to express the sadness of the entire board over this dangerous and disturbing development where our promising youths both boys and girls are being massively recruited for exploitative purposes”.
She added: “Reports emanating from these destination countries are heartbreaking and we cannot fold our hands while our children are daily being destroyed.
“Activities of these labour agencies are inimical to development of the nation, it is a setback to the fight against human trafficking and it just has to stop.”
Gotomo therefore commended NAPTIP Director General, Julie Okah-Donli, “for the modest achievements in the agency since she resumed, especially in the areas of prosecution, awareness creation and advocacy”.
According to him, the NAPTIP boss, who presented an overview of activities of the agency earlier to the board, emphasised major challenges facing the agency.
He said that Okah-Donli told the board that activities of some of the labour recruitment agencies were frustrating the fight against human trafficking in the country.
He quoted her as saying “activities of some labour recruiters are frustrating Federal Government’s fight against exploitation of our citizens”.
Okah-Donli also said that there was need to stop development of these agencies that were touting unverified recruitment licences and call them to order.
