By Olukayode Idowu
The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago has called on State Governors across the country to join hands with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to tackle the issues of human trafficking and violence against persons in the country.
Bago, while observing that the phenomenon of human trafficking and violence against persons are issues of serious concern that require the collective support and collaboration of all state and non-state actors across the sub-national levels of government, said: “The focus on violence in persons and also trafficking in persons is very important, especially in Northern Nigeria.”
The governor who paid host ti the Management of NAPTIP led by the Director General, Binta Bello at the Niger State Liaison Office, Abuja, on Tuesday, said: “We have a lot of out-of-school children especially girls and also a lot of domestic violence issues arising from that. We also have issues of violence against women as a fallout of the insecurity in the region.”
The Director General had visited the Governor as part of her strategic engagement with critical stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.
Bago said: “There is the need for the government at the sub-national especially the northern Nigeria, to collaborate with NAPTIP to effectively address these issues.”
The governor while lauding the achievements of the Director General within the short time of her appointment, announced robust support including land for the immediate take-off of the Niger State Command of NAPTIP.
He said: “We shall give you a land with Certificate of Occupancy for the establishment of the Niger State Command and we want this project to start immediately. If you have the personnel ready, we can also get you temporary accommodation so that you can open the Command in February. We are also ready to accommodate and provide support for you to establish NAPTIP Regional Command Office in Niger State. We are very ambitious to have the Northern Command of this very important agency.”
Earlier in her speech, Binta Bello, who briefed the Governor on the establishment and mandates of the agency, stated that “our presence in Niger State is paramount to executing our mandates effectively. It is to enable us to work closely with the State authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.
“Also, our desire to have a presence in your State is due to several cases of child trafficking, Child labour, and domestic servitude that we received across sub-national levels which include Niger State”. She appreciated the response and the immediate promise of support for the establishment of the Niger State Command and urged other State Governments to emulate the gesture of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
