…THREATENS SHUT DOWN
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
has given all organisations, Shelters and Homes, offering services for the
purpose of rehabilitation of trafficked persons in Nigeria one-month
ultimatum to obtain clearance certificates to operate in the country or risk
shut down and prosecution in accordance with the Agency’s extant law.
This ultimatum, which takes effect from Wednesday 29 th June, 2022, was
handed down by the Director-General, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi at the
weekend in Abuja at a meeting with a segment of the Agency’s
stakeholders. The ultimatum is based on the powers given to the Agency
under the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and
Centres) Regulations 2019 and the resolve of the Agency to give more
effect to it after the grace period earlier given to the organisations to
comply has expired.
Regulation 2019 was issued by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN on 9 th October, 2019. The
legislation, according to Dr Waziri-Azi, was necessitated by the disturbing
cases of trafficking in persons by Nigerians, under the guise of educational,
cultural and musical excursions; labour migration; and sporting related
travels to foreign counties, especially the Middle East, Eastern, and Central
Europe.
The Director-General also disclosed that the Agency was also closing in on
travel agents and tour operators involved in the recruitment of Nigerians
for labour outside Nigeria, educational excursions, cultural, music
excursions and competitions with children outside the country without
obtaining the requisite clearance certificates from NAPTIP.
Explaining the rationale for the ultimatum, Dr Waziri-Azi said
‘’unscrupulous persons hide under the façade of being a travel agent, tour
operator or recruiter of labour to deceive, defraud, and lure naïve victims
to foreign countries for the purpose of exploitation which takes the form of
sexual exploitation, forced labour, debt bondage, slavery and removal of
organs.
‘’The Regulation which is fully operational, gives NAPTIP the powers to
regulate, control and scrutinise all travels as categorized by the Regulation
and ensure that the intent and purpose of embarking on such travels are
genuine, and it is projected that this regulatory function will reduce
incidents of human trafficking”
The Director-General further explained that the Regulation empowers the
Agency to charge an administrative fee for the issuance of Clearance
Certificates. The fee, according to her, is to cover the cost of verification of
documents submitted by the Applicants via
https://tipclearance.naptip.gov.ng/
The Trafficking in person (Control of Activities of Organisations and
Centres) Regulations, 2019, is in place to ensure that labour recruitment,
travel agents, tour operations and operators of shelters and homes offering
services for the rehabilitation of trafficked persons conduct their
businesses within the ambit of the law and by extension stem the dreadful
trend of human trafficking.
Stella Nezan
Head, Press and Public Relations
