The Senate has approved measures to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking laws, investigate suspected trafficking networks, increase funding for enforcement agencies and establish a national reintegration programme for Nigerians rescued from exploitation abroad.
The resolutions followed consideration of a joint report by the Senate Committees on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Foreign Affairs, and Special Duties on the need to protect Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and human rights abuses in Libya.
Presenting the report during Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Anthony Yaro, representing Gombe South, said the committees had consulted relevant stakeholders and examined the issues raised in a motion on the plight of Nigerians exposed to trafficking and exploitation.
He said the recommendations were intended to strengthen the country’s response to trafficking, improve protection for victims and dismantle criminal networks exploiting vulnerable Nigerians.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently led the chamber in considering and approving the recommendations.
Under the resolutions, the Senate called for a review and stronger enforcement of existing anti-trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and the Child Rights Act 2003.
The lawmakers also urged the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant agencies to investigate suspected trafficking networks and travel agencies allegedly involved in recruiting and exploiting Nigerians abroad.
The proposed investigations are expected to examine recruitment channels, financial transactions and travel arrangements to identify suspected offenders and facilitate their prosecution.
The Senate further recommended increased funding for NAPTIP and other relevant agencies to strengthen investigations, prosecutions and support services for trafficking survivors.
It also called on the Federal Government to establish a national reintegration and protection programme for returning victims, to be coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in collaboration with NAPTIP.
On international cooperation, the Senate urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to intensify diplomatic engagement with Libya to combat trafficking, modern-day slavery and irregular migration.
The proposed collaboration would focus on intelligence sharing, improved border management, dismantling trafficking networks, protecting vulnerable migrants and facilitating the repatriation of victims.
Akpabio recounts rescue of trafficked children
During deliberations, Akpabio broadened the discussion to include human trafficking and child abduction within Nigeria, recounting the case of three children allegedly abducted in Akwa Ibom State and moved through several locations before being rescued by the police.
According to the Senate President, the children were taken to Aba, Katsina and Lagos before traffickers allegedly attempted to move them across the border to Ghana.
He said the children had been missing for about 93 days before the police traced their movements and rescued them.
Akpabio commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for their roles in the operation.
He also disclosed that he had directed the police to arrange a meeting with the eldest child, who reportedly warned prospective buyers that the Senate President was searching for them.
“I’ve promised myself that when I see the child, I will give that child scholarship to university level,” he said.
Akpabio said the incident underscored the need for stronger security measures and greater public awareness of trafficking and child abduction.
He warned that human trafficking was not limited to international destinations, noting that children were also abducted and moved across state boundaries within Nigeria.
Senate President proposes stricter tenancy regulations
The Senate President also called for stronger tenancy regulations requiring landlords and property managers to maintain verifiable records of their tenants.
He proposed a system he described as “Know Your Tenant”, modelled on the Know Your Customer requirements used in the financial sector.
“This one we can say, know your tenant. Let’s make the necessary law for the FCT, for instance,” he said.
Akpabio argued that proper tenant identification and registration could assist security agencies in tracing suspects when crimes were committed.
He also advocated the regulation of short-let accommodation, proposing that occupants should provide valid identification to facilitate investigations into criminal activities linked to rented properties.
He urged the National Assembly to consider appropriate legislation for the Federal Capital Territory, while state governments and Houses of Assembly could explore similar measures within their jurisdictions.
However, he stressed that authorities must also strengthen the enforcement of existing anti-trafficking and child-protection laws.
Tambuwal advocates registration of tenants, properties
Former Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, told the Senate that he had previously supported legislation aimed at strengthening the registration of tenants and rental properties.
He said a bill he initiated while serving as Speaker was circulated to state Houses of Assembly but was not passed.
According to him, a similar proposal was subsequently enacted in Sokoto State during his tenure as governor, establishing a Rent Control and Management Commission with provisions for registering tenants and rental properties.
Tambuwal urged the Senate to examine the legislation and consider encouraging other states to adopt similar measures.
He said such mechanisms could improve security checks and help authorities trace individuals suspected of committing crimes from rented properties.
Senators demand effective enforcement
Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, said the effectiveness of anti-trafficking measures would depend largely on the enforcement of existing laws.
He noted that some states already had legislation regulating tenancy but questioned whether the provisions were being adequately implemented.
“The issue for me, and I think that is the main issue, is enforcement of our laws,” Imasuen said.
He called for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that trafficking, kidnapping and other serious crimes were thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
Imasuen also urged authorities to ensure that investigations and prosecutions were conducted transparently and that cases did not disappear from public attention without clear outcomes.
Senator Babangida Hussaini, representing Jigawa North-West, said Lagos State had operated a tenancy law since 2012, suggesting that existing legislation could serve as a reference for other jurisdictions.
Lawmakers seek wider public awareness
Akpabio urged the National Orientation Agency and other relevant institutions to intensify public education on the dangers of human trafficking.
He said victims were often deceived with promises of education, employment and better living conditions before being exploited abroad.
The Senate President recounted cases in which young Nigerians were allegedly recruited under the pretext of securing overseas employment but were subsequently forced into prostitution after their travel documents were confiscated.
He advised families to exercise caution when considering overseas employment and educational offers that could expose their children to exploitation.
Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, said state governments also had a responsibility to address the problem.
He argued that public awareness campaigns should be accompanied by efforts to create employment opportunities for young people within Nigeria.
“The issue you talk about shall not be left to the National Orientation Agency alone,” Aliero said, urging state governments to educate young people about fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes.
He maintained that expanding employment opportunities at home could reduce the pressure on young Nigerians to pursue potentially dangerous opportunities abroad.
Oshiomhole calls for international action
Senator Adams Oshiomhole said human trafficking should be treated as an international problem requiring cooperation between countries from which victims are recruited and those where they are exploited.
He argued that efforts to combat trafficking must address both the recruitment of vulnerable Nigerians and the demand that sustains exploitation in destination countries.
Recalling discussions with Italian officials on the trafficking of Nigerian women and girls, Oshiomhole said destination countries must take responsibility for tackling the demand for sexual exploitation.
He urged Nigeria to strengthen domestic enforcement while engaging foreign governments to dismantle the networks facilitating trafficking across borders.
The Senate’s resolutions seek to combine stronger legislation, better-funded enforcement agencies, victim rehabilitation, public awareness and international cooperation in tackling human trafficking.
The lawmakers also stressed the importance of coordinated action by federal and state governments to protect vulnerable Nigerians, prevent deceptive recruitment and ensure that returning victims receive the support needed to rebuild their lives.
