The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Monday commenced training its officers and other stakeholders on revised data collection instruments for the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organized by NAPTIP in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from the Swiss Government.
It is a five-day capacity-building program for NAPTIP officers, State Task Forces, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the Northwest Zone.
NAPTIP Director-General Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello said the training was part of a broader project titled “From Policy to Action: Implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022-2026)”.
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Represented by the Kano Zonal Commander of the agency, Mr. Abdullahi Babale, the Director-General noted that reliable data collection was the foundation of effective counter-trafficking programming.
“NAPTIP recently undertook an internal review of the agency’s data collection tools and the national template for human trafficking data collection and analysis to ensure they are comprehensive and responsive to current needs in counter-trafficking.
“This review introduced vital components, such as disability indicators, to promote inclusive data reporting and ensure that no one is overlooked in our anti-trafficking initiatives.
“This alignment standardizes the instruments, ensuring accessibility and effectiveness across various platforms for multiple agencies responsible for reporting under the National Action Plan.
“We are now in the process of cascading this training to all national and subnational actors who have roles in implementing the National Action Plan on human trafficking,” she said.
According to her, data is indeed the lifeblood of policy interventions and operations across many fields, particularly in counter-trafficking.
“With reliable data, we can track trends, allocate resources effectively, and develop evidence-based strategies to detect and eliminate human trafficking,” she added.
Adamu-Bello commended the Swiss Government and UNODC for their support and commitment to Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking and for their enduring partnership with NAPTIP.
“The training will significantly contribute to the success of our national anti-trafficking initiatives, enhancing Nigeria’s standing among nations in combating this transnational crime,” the Director-General stated.
The Director of Research and Programmes at NAPTIP, Mr. Josiah Emerole, described the training as timely, especially as the agency was focusing more on evidence-based programming, “which only proper data collection, analysis, and dissemination can provide.”
Emerole, represented by the agency’s Assistant Director of Research and Programmes, Mr. Oluwabori Ogunkanmi, said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was emphasizing evidence-based performance from all MDAs, in line with the performance bonds signed with ministers.
“The agency aims to train participants on the developed and revised National Action Plan (NAP) reporting framework and harmonized tools at both national and subnational levels.
“The training will enhance uniform reporting across states in line with the various pillars of NAP.
“It will promote the use of reporting tools for programming and the development of work plans in alignment with NAP,” he said.
Emerole noted that at the end of the workshop, the reporting tools would be adopted as the standard template for reporting counter-trafficking activities to the agency.
The UNODC representative, Ms. Ifeoma Kanebi, encouraged participants to share the knowledge they acquired with others.
“Let us join hands in eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria and safeguarding the rights and dignity of every individual,” she advised.
While commending NAPTIP for its relentless efforts in combating human trafficking in Nigeria, Kanebi also lauded the Swiss Government for its support.
The Kano State Coordinator of the National Association of CSOs Working Against Human Trafficking, Child Abuse, and Labour, Mr. Muhamad Mashi, said the training would equip participants with valuable skills and help reduce human trafficking in Nigeria.
(NAN)
