The Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has promised a robust partnership and collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in tackling the incidence of human trafficking, especially the emerging stowaway and other illegal movement of victims and other unaccompanied minors at the exit and entry points of the nation.
He stated this while playing host to the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, and the Board Member, MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Hajia Lami Tumaka, as they paid the Custom Boss a courtesy visit at the Service Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit was part of the tripartite engagement and outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NAPTIP and MMS WoFHoF, which was anchored on collective efforts and synergy in the fight against human trafficking in the Country.
Speaking during the visit, the Director General said,” Human Trafficking is an organized transnational crime that thrives on weak inter-Agency coordination. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with its statutory responsibility for border management and trade facilitation, remains one of the strategic partners in curbing cross-border trafficking of persons, smuggling of migrants, and other related crimes”.
She sought the support of the Service in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint capacity building, and sensitization for Officers of both Agencies, Joint Operations, and Inter-Agency task Forces, as well as public awareness and community engagement at border communities.
Also speaking, the Board Member, MMS WoFHoF, Hajia Lami Tumaka, informed the CGC of the planned joint national Conference and Dialogue on stowaways and Human trafficking, designed to enhance understanding of stakeholders and scale up preventive mechanisms of Trafficking in Persons.
In his response, the Controller General of Customs described partnership as key in the fight against any societal menace, assured of the full support and support of the Customs in all interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of human trafficking in the Country.
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