THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (NAPTIP)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) was created on July 14, 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2003.
The agency is the Federal Government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of trafficking in persons. It is a fulfillment of the country’s international obligation under the Trafficking in Persons Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Transnational Organised Crime Convention (UNTOC).
Nigeria became a signatory to the Transnational Organised Crime Convention and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol on December 13, 2000. Article 5 of the Trafficking Protocol enjoins States Parties to criminalise practices and conduct that subject human beings to all forms of exploitation which includes in the minimum sexual and labour exploitation.
The Trafficking in Persons Act 2003 was an outcome of a private member bill sponsored at the National-Assembly by the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), a non-governmental organisation founded by Mrs. Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, the wife of the Vice-President of Nigeria at that time.
The Bill was passed by the National Assembly on July 7, 2003 and Presidential Assent given on July 14, 2003. The law which is operational throughout the country created NAPTIP as a specific multi-disciplinary crimefighting Agency and the nation’s focal institution to fight the scourge of trafficking in persons in the country using the four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership.
The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 went through an amendment in 2005 in a bid to further strengthen the Agency. However, in 2015, as a result of the new trends in the crime of trafficking in persons and the need to further strengthen the institutional framework, the Act was repealed and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 was enacted. The new Act received Presidential assent on March 26, 2015.
Functions
The functions of the agency are to: - sions of this Act.
laws on Trafficking in persons and related offences.
prevention and eradication of trafficking in persons and related offences.
regulatory and investigatory machinery geared towards the eradication of trafficking in persons.
persons including forced labour, child labour, forced prostitution, exploitative labour and other forms of exploitation, slavery and slavery – like activities, bonded labour, removal of organs, illegal smuggling of migrants, sale and purchase of persons.
- ability and participation of persons who voluntarily, consent to assist in investigations or proceedings relating to trafficking in persons and related offences.
enforcement agents and other partners in the suppression of trafficking in persons.
and awareness through seminars, workshops, publications, radio and television programmes and other means aimed at educating the public on the dangers of trafficking in persons.
- nications to facilitate rapid exchange of information concerning offences under this Act.
effective legal means of international co-operation in suppressing trafficking in persons;
Implement all bilateral and multilateral treaties and conventions on trafficking in persons adopted by Nigeria.
conduct joint operations with relevant law enforcement and security agencies, international authorities and other relevant partners in the eradication of trafficking in persons.
the protection, assistance and rehabilitation of trafficked persons and all functions and activities relating to investigation and prosecution of all offences connected with or relating to trafficking in persons.
freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds, property, funds or other assets derived from trafficking in persons or related offences.
- sible for internal and external trafficking in persons and initiate programmes and strategies aimed at the prevention and elimination of the problem.
scientific and technical information concerning or relating to trafficking in persons.
bodies both within and outside Nigeria whose functions are similar to those of the agency in the area of the: movement of proceeds or properties derived from trafficking in persons and other related offences;
identities, location and activities of persons suspected of being involved in trafficking in persons and other related offences; and
exchange of personnel and other experts.
for monitoring trans-border activities relating to trafficking in persons in order to identify suspicious movements and persons involved.
with the extradition and deportation of persons involved in trafficking in persons and other mutual legal assistance between Nigeria and any other country in trafficking in persons, subject to the supervision of the minister.
special training programmes for personnel of the agency and relevant law enforcement agents charged with the responsibility of detecting offences created under this Act.
are necessary for the efficient discharge of the functions conferred on it under this Act.
Powers
The agency has the power to: body or entity has committed an offence under this Act or the offence of trafficking under any other law.
or conveyance for the purpose of conducting searches in furtherance of its functions.
- fenders under this Act or any other law on trafficking in persons in Nigeria.
custody, for the purpose of investigation and prosecution, of any property which the Agency reasonably believes to have been involved in or used in the commission of offences.
suspicion of such premises being involved with or used in connection with offences under the Act.
any person, authority, corporation or company without hindrance in respect of the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Act.
Source: Naptip.gov.ng