The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, has called for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to effectively combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 28th National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum (NSCF) on Trafficking in Persons in Abuja on Wednesday, Fagbemi — represented by Mrs. Victoria Ojogbane, Director of Research and Project Development — stressed the need for collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, as well as international partners and civil society organisations.
The forum was held in commemoration of the 2025 International Day Against Human Trafficking, themed “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime: End the Exploitation.”
“Human trafficking is no longer a crime that can be tackled by one agency or sector alone. It demands a united front and reinforced partnerships,” Fagbemi stated.
He described human trafficking as a transnational, highly organised, and profit-driven criminal enterprise, citing a 2023 International Labour Organisation (ILO) report that estimates global annual profits from trafficking at over $245 billion — $169.9 billion from sexual exploitation and $75.9 billion from forced labour, including domestic servitude.
Fagbemi also noted that Nigeria remains a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, posing a serious threat to national security. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s alignment with global frameworks such as the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
He highlighted several reforms under the Tinubu-led administration aimed at tackling the root causes of trafficking, including expanded social investment programmes such as conditional cash transfers, youth employment schemes, and justice sector reforms to improve mutual legal assistance.
“These efforts aim to reduce economic desperation and vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Cheikh Toure, Nigeria Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), emphasised the need for community-level intervention, where trafficking often begins.
“The battleground is the community. Prevention remains our strongest weapon,” Toure said, urging the Federal Government to adopt a whole-of-government approach and increase funding for state task forces and local government initiatives.
Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), announced the launch of a revised National Data Collection System and a National Dashboard on Human Trafficking to improve data-driven policy decisions.
“These tools are part of a broader data ecosystem that improves accountability and supports decision-making in the fight against trafficking,” she noted.
Adamu-Bello also stressed the need to begin early planning for a new national anti-trafficking framework as the current National Action Plan (2022–2026) approaches its end. She applauded the collaboration between NAPTIP, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and ECOWAS in domesticating the regional TIP+ Strategy, which integrates broader efforts against gender-based violence, irregular migration, and exploitation.
