By Taiye Odewale
Abuja
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described the human trafficking and illegal migration by some Nigerians as “threat to national security that requires urgent response.”
Saraki made the remarks when the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, led the agency’s management team on a courtesy visit to him in at the National Assembly on Friday, last week.
According to him, in view of the bad image being created for the country and the overall security implications posed by the illegal migrants and victims of trafficking, the Senate would support the federal government and NAPTIP to work out a cohesive and comprehensive national response to the twin evil.
He said human trafficking and illegal migration activities had reached crisis proportions in the country with severe implications for national security.
He said: “As you know through your valuable work, human trafficking and illegal migration are the EU’s number one issue with Nigeria.
“The European Union members fear these issues fuel the attraction of many citizens to the divisive messages espoused by ultra nationalist political parties.”
He lamented that thousands of young Nigerians continue to risk their lives unnecessarily as they attempt to transit across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea on the false promise of a better life in Europe and beyond.
“The crisis has exposed the ruthless human trafficking, smuggling and criminal cartels that profit on the hopes and dreams of these young people. Many of these unscrupulous groups are organised by Nigerians.
“Unfortunately, this has caused some in the international community and media to shine negative attention on Nigeria, in this respect, the human trafficking and illegal migration crisis has become a national security issue.”
He, however, declared that the Senate was aware of the challenging work and important achievements of NAPTIP, saying “we will make our best effort to support your agency during the 2018 budget/appropriations process.”
Earlier, the NAPTIP boss decried the monumental challenges confronting the agency in efforts to fulfil its statutory mandate due to poor and irregular funding.
She called for the intervention of the National Assembly in enhancing the capacity of the Agency to better actualise its mandate through favourable budgetary provision and acquisition of a permanent office for the Agency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She also urged state governments to provide adequate structures for the rescue and rehabilitation of the victims of human trafficking in their state.
