The Federal Government has declared a renewed offensive against human trafficking following the groundbreaking launch of Africa's first National Counter-Trafficking Dashboard by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Digital Revolution in Anti-Trafficking Fight
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, announced the development during the Second Policy Level Meeting on Human Trafficking 2025 held in Abuja on Wednesday. Represented by the Director of Research and Statistics, Victoria Ojogbane, the minister described the digital platform as a game-changer that provides real-time data on anti-trafficking activities across Nigeria.
"This digital platform provides real-time data on anti-trafficking activities across Nigeria, enhancing coordination, transparency, and accountability," Fagbemi stated, emphasizing the platform's potential to revolutionize Nigeria's approach to combating human trafficking.
Tier 2 Status and Ongoing Challenges
Despite this technological advancement, the minister expressed deep concern about Nigeria's continued classification as a Tier 2 nation in the 2025 U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report. This ranking indicates that Nigeria has not fully met the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking but is making significant efforts.
Fagbemi identified several critical areas needing improvement, including insufficient victim identification and protection mechanisms, inadequate screening procedures, and persistent corruption among some law enforcement and judicial officers.
"We must work assiduously to change this narrative in the next reporting cycle. Our collective actions must demonstrate measurable progress and tangible impact," the Attorney General urged participants at the policy meeting.
Alarming Statistics and Concrete Actions
NAPTIP Director General, Hajiya Binta Bello, presented compelling statistics demonstrating the scale of Nigeria's anti-trafficking efforts in 2025. From January to early November 2025, the agency achieved remarkable results:
- 802 cases received
- 1,839 victims rescued and rehabilitated
- 872 suspected traffickers arrested
- 67 convictions secured involving 85 persons
Bello highlighted that the number of convicted persons has already surpassed the previous record of 82 convictions set in 2022, indicating improved prosecution effectiveness.
The minister emphasized the staggering economic scale of human trafficking, revealing that available data estimates the annual profit from this crime and related activities at over $245 billion USD, with sexual exploitation constituting a significant portion.
Looking forward, NAPTIP is preparing to develop a new National Action Plan (2027-2031) while building on lessons from the current plan ending in 2026. Immediate strategies include investigating all credible allegations of official complicity, enhancing frontline officer training, scaling up labor trafficking investigations, and activating the Victims' Trust Fund to support survivors' financial and reintegration needs.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership to protect human dignity and achieve the total eradication of human trafficking in Nigeria, describing the crime as one that "strikes at the very fabric of humanity."
