The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has sealed a partnership deal with the Nigeria Shippers’ Council to combat human trafficking through the waterways and coastal areas.

Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday that the move had received wide support from the management of NSC.

Mr Adekoye said the council, during a courtesy visit to its office by NAPTIP, pledged a robust cooperation, effective collaboration, and sustained synergy with NAPTIP.

He said the visit was part of the strategic engagement of NAPTIP director-general Binta Adamu-Bello with critical agencies of government and partners across the country.

He said that the visit was aimed at enhancing inter-agency collaboration in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.

Ms Adamu-Bello described NSC as a critical partner that would assist in no small measure in combatting human trafficking.

According to her, due to the intense operational heat on traffickers on the land borders by operatives of NAPTIP, some of them now use the waterways to traffic their victims.

“As a maritime regulatory body, the NSC oversees critical gateways to the nation’s trade and transportation systems.

“This gateway is unfortunately exploited by traffickers to move victims clandestinely via vessels and other maritime routes.

“The shipping, ports, and logistics sectors can play a pivotal role in early detection, prevention, and reporting of trafficking activities,” Ms Adamu-Bello said.

Akutah Pius Ukeyima, the CEO of NSC, described human trafficking as one of the most heinous transnational organised crimes.

According to Mr Ukeyima, such crimes required the collective effort of all stakeholders and partners to combat them.

He said that the evolving nature of the crime, coupled with the various dimensions and scope, made it more dangerous, with attendant consequences for innocent victims.

He acknowledged the achievements of NAPTIP, stressing that the partnership was important to overcome human trafficking

“The maritime sector is not to be left out in this fight to combat human trafficking in Nigeria. This is a veritable means of transporting victims to other countries,” he said.

The high point of the visit was the setting up of an interim inter-agency committee to work out the modality and establish the necessary framework for the new counter-trafficking collaboration.

(NAN)