The House of Representatives has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to human trafficking, declaring that repatriating trafficked Nigerians from Mali and other West African countries is no longer enough unless backed by comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
The position was canvassed on Wednesday at a high-level stakeholders’ technical meeting organised by the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, where lawmakers, government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations examined strategies for improving the rescue and reintegration of trafficked Nigerians.
The meeting, however, took a dramatic turn when the National Council of Child Rights Advocates, Nigeria, levelled a series of allegations against officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Mali, accusing them of poor handling of rescued victims, lack of transparency in repatriation activities and alleged collaboration with individuals exploiting vulnerable Nigerians.
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, said Nigeria must adopt a survivor-centred approach that goes beyond bringing victims home.
“It is with great honour, profound humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I warmly welcome you all to this High-Level Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on Strengthening the Repatriation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Trafficked Nigerians from Mali and Other West African Countries,” she said.
