NAPTIP Issues One Month Ultimatum to Rehabilitation Homes, Others

By Tolulope Oke

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has given all organizations, shelters, and homes in Nigeria a one-month deadline to obtain clearance certificates to operate in the country or risk being shut down and prosecuted in accordance with the agency’s existing law.

According to ThisDay, the Head, Press and Public Relations, Stella Nezan, said the ultimatum, which took effect from Wednesday June, 29, was handed down by the Director-General, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi at a meeting with a segment of the Agency’s stakeholders.

The statement stated that the ultimatum is based on the Agency’s powers under the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organizations and Centres) Regulations 2019 and the Agency’s resolve to give it more effect after the grace period previously granted to the organizations to comply has expired.

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Also, the regulation 2019 was issued on October 9, 2019 by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN.

“Unscrupulous persons hide behind the guise of being a travel agent, tour operator, or recruiter of labor to deceive, defraud, and lure naive victims to foreign countries for the purpose of exploitation, which takes the form of sexual exploitation, forced labor, debt bondage, slavery, and organ removal,” Dr Waziri-Azi explained.

“The Regulation, which is now fully operational, gives NAPTIP the authority to regulate, control, and scrutinize all travels as defined by the Regulation, and to ensure that the intent and purpose of such travels are genuine; it is anticipated that this regulatory function will reduce incidents of human trafficking.”