Training and awareness to combat trafficking in Nigeria

Human smuggling and trafficking are very lucrative activities for criminal organisations.  It is estimated that the exploitation of people produces profits of up to 150 billion dollars every year. Its scope is global and affects all countries and every economic sector of society. Through the A-TIPSOM Nigeria programme, funded by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP, we work to strengthen the fight against these crimes that endanger the lives of thousands of people every year.  

Under the programme, a training workshop has been organised to conduct parallel financial investigations into the proceeds of traffickers and smugglers. This training, organised in association with Nigeria’s Commission Economic and Financial Crime Commission, has addressed more than forty investigators from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria’s CONSTABLE.  

During the opening ceremony of this event, the director general of NAPTIP announced that they will be setting up a financial investigation unit within the Investigations Department to guarantee that the proceeds of human trafficking are found and confiscated for the benefit of the federal government.  

In addition to focusing on the economic and financial part of criminal organisations, the project also works to raise awareness among the population about human smuggling and trafficking, a fundamental aspect of such problems. A-TIPSOM therefore organised an event in Asaba to step up the fight against human trafficking. For two days, the population took part in activities such as a debate in the town hall with the interested parties and a march through the state of Delta to raise awareness of the dangers of human trafficking.