The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is seeking the collaboration of three aviation agencies in the fight against human trafficking.
The Director-General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons,
Mrs. Julie Okah-Donle, listed the agencies as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Aviation Management Agency (NAMA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA.
Okah-Donle said on Monday that she decided to carry out the campaign against human trafficking to the three organisations because of their important roles in the aviation industry.
She listed the mandate of NAPTIP to include coordination of efforts against human trafficking and enforcement of laws against human trafficking.
She said that NAPTIP performed its functions with the application of prevention, policy and protection measures as well as partnership with relevant organisations.
“The aviation sector is an important ally in the fight against human trafficking; hence, it is time for the operators in the industry to rise to the occasion and join hands with NAPTIP.
“It is disturbing that young Nigerians are lured out of the country through the airports and other exit points with false promises of better lives abroad, only for them to end up in slave-like conditions at their destinations.
“Therefore, as you carry out your oversight functions of airports, airspace, metrological services, I implore you to ensure that airlines are mandated to fulfil part of their obligations under the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015,” she said.
The director-general called on airline operators to report suspected cases of human trafficking to NAPTIP.
The Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, assured the NAPTIP boss of full cooperation to meet the agency’s mandate.
“We are here to support you to ensure that you carry out your mandate. We are very much open in assisting you in achieving NAPTIP objectives,” Usman said.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabui Yadudu, represented by the FAAN Director of Security Services, Capt. Usman Sadiq, also assured the anti-human trafficking agency of support.
Yadudu said that the sensitisation was a welcome development.
Some materials for information at the airport, inside the planes and on website of the agencies were presented by the NAPTIP boss to the organisations.
MM/GIK/APA