President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday that the anti-corruption campaign of the present administration and the economic programme of diversification would significantly address the lack of job opportunities and deprivation that make Nigerian youths vulnerable to recruitment by human traffickers.
The President said this at the meeting on Modern Slavery hosted by the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Theresa May on the margins of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), at the residence of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the UN.
“We are also investing more on infrastructure development, education and health for our people. When the results of our efforts become manifest the attraction of seeking greener pastures abroad will lesson,” he said.
The President commended the British Prime Minister for drawing the attention of the international community to such a serious matter to coincide with a time that the global focus is on migration and refugee crisis, and called for practical and innovative measures “to address all the modern day human tragedies.”
“More worrisome is the fact that human trafficking and modern day slavery have created a dangerous political economy of their own. In consequence, this international criminality is defined by the activities of human traffickers that lure unsuspecting victims into forced labour, inhuman treatment, money laundering and prostitution.
“Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with other countries and international organizations to confront this phenomenon. We have a strong commitment to combating the menace of modern slavery, and will redouble our efforts to prohibit human trafficking, while providing succour to its hapless victims,” he said.
On measures taken by the country against the evil practice, the President said the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service have taken steps to establish a joint operational working group to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants from the country.
“We are aware of the challenge for Nigeria, but our resolve to combat it is strong and unshakable,” he said.
The President was accompanied to the high-level meeting by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rtd).
