National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
has called for strengthening of policies, programmes and legal instrument to further enhance
protection of children in the country.
The Director General of the agency, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made the call in a statement issued
by Mrs Stella Nezan, the Head, Press and Public Relations unit of NAPTIP in Abuja on Thursday.
Nezan stated that the NAPTIP boss made the call to mark the 2021 Children’s Day celebration.
She quoted the agency boss as saying “as the world celebrates the 2021 World
Children’s Day, I join millions of Nigerians across the globe in wishing our children a happy day.
“This year’s celebration presents us with the opportunity of drawing attention to those critical issues
that border on interrupted education and wellbeing of our children.
“Human trafficking and child labour are a set of twin evils which currently afflict every state and region of the country. Quite a large number of Nigerian children have fallen victims of illicit commercial activities.
“These activities include human trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and street begging.”
She added that the safety of children from kidnappers, abusive parents and guardians, as well as the sale
of children for exploitative purposes further re-enforces the need to strengthen and accelerate action on policies and programmes.
According to her, a legal framework that will help in enhancing the protection of the children from evil elements and criminal minded is seriously needed.
She stressed the need for the passage and full implementation of the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act in all states that had neither passed nor implemented.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the laws were designed to provide a safe-net for children.
She added that there was great need to begin to instill in the children, core values of honesty, hard work, selfless service, moral rectitude, patriotism and respect for elders, accountability, discipline and self-confidence.
She noted that as leaders, it was necessary we set good examples for children.
“If the children grow up with core moral values instilled in them, the hope of having a truly great nation in the near future would be rekindled.’’
The NAPTIP boss also urged parents, teachers, guardians and religious leaders to take into cognisance the need to protect children and wards from unscrupulous elements with the mindset of toying with their destiny.
She called on parents to work closely with NAPTIP and other law enforcement agencies in ensuring that perpetrators of evil acts toward the children were reported and brought to book.
She commended the Federal Government “for the commitment to safeguard the interest of Nigerian children and saving them from the hands of violators and human traffickers.”
According to her, NAPTIP on its part shall continue to work toward the protection of children and that all hands must be on deck
to protect the interests and wellbeing of children.
She said that the protection of children must be seen as a collective responsibility to ensure that they were safe at all times.
