Uncategorized
NAPTIP Since Inception Has Rescued 23,900 Victims of Human Trafficking, Gotten 692 Convictions- Binta Bello
NAPTIP Since Inception Has Rescued 23,900 Victims of Human Trafficking, Gotten 692 Convictions- Binta Bello
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has been able to rescue 23,900 victims of human trafficking and gotten 692 convictions since its inception, its Director General, Hajiya Binta Bello has said.
Speaking on Wednesday at the High-Level Policy Dialogue 2024 on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as part of the activities marking the 2024, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence themed: “Unite to end violence against women and girls,” the DG said NAPTIP has achieved significant milestones in the fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
She noted that such milestones include the rescue of victims from human trafficking, stating that: “So far, NAPTIP has rescued 23,900 victims of human trafficking, which includes 90% women.”
She added that shelters and safe spaces have been created, stressing that the agency has established 92 offices and 40 shelters across Nigeria and the federal capital territory to provide safe homes for victims.
Bello said NAPTIP has secured 692 convictions for traffickers and 37 for perpetrators of GBV, noting that the agency
conducts regular training programmes for law enforcement agencies, stakeholders, and the public to raise awareness and improve response to GBV.
She equally stated that the agency continuously engage in public awareness campaign, which is aimed at informing, educating and mobilizing communities against the menace of GBV and human trafficking.
Bello said the agency also collaborates with international organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders to amplify its efforts and reach a wider audience, adding that: “NAPTIP has also developed and implemented national action plans to combat human trafficking and GBV, ensuring a coordinated and effective response. The agency advocates for stronger policies and legal framework to protect victims and persuade offenders.
She noted that: “These achievements highlight NAPTIP’s unwavering commitment to creating a safer and more equitable society, especially for women and girls in Nigeria and beyond. These efforts have not only provided immediate support to victims, but also contributed to long-term systemic changes to prevent this problem. These examples provide us an invaluable platform to assess our strategies, foster collaboration, and ensure that policies are effectively implemented and monitored.
“It is an opportunity to amplify the voices of survivors, engage policymakers, and inspire every stakeholder to act decisively. We cannot do it alone. We need every hand on deck to move our shared vision into reality.”
The DG appealed that: “As we deliberate today, I would like to profess to you our close collaboration in several key areas to enhance our efforts. Capacity building, providing NAPTIP operators with training on best practices for fighting GBV, to ensure they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills, Expansion of our shelters, expanding NAPTIP shelters across Nigeria to provide safe havens for war victims. These shelters, if expanded, shall include both closed and open shelters as well, to absorb best practices.
“Empowerment programme. Initiatives to empower victims of this menace through vocational training and economic opportunities and psychosocial support. Let us focus on actionable steps to break the cycle of violence.
“Let us ensure that survivors receive the justice and support they deserve. Let us, as a united front, challenge the social norms and structure that perpetuate violence.”
She insisted that: “Together we can make significant progress in the fight against gender-based violence and build a safer, more equitable society for women and girls.”
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Gwabin said: “This event is apt and well-tailored to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s theme, “Towards Beijing 30+: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” is a timely and urgent call to action, one that resonates deeply with all of us as we collectively strive for a world free from violence, where women and girls can live with dignity, equality, and respect.”
She noted that: “Undoubtedly, violence against women and girls remains a pervasive global challenge, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to addressing and eradicating this violation of human rights. As we reflect on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which is being said to be the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the empowerment of women and girls, it is evident that much progress has been made.”
She added that: “However, as we mark this significant milestone, we are also reminded that there is still much work to be done. As such, I am pleased to be in this space with like minds who are focused on women empowerment and resolute to combat GBV.”
She stated that: “The collaboration of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme is vital in amplifying the message that we must unite to end violence against women and girls. Through joint efforts, we can build stronger systems of support, develop precautionary strategies, and foster a society that values and protects the rights of all individuals, especially women and girls.”
In his part, the Deputy Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Danilo Campisi
said a vote to end violence against women and girls is a clarion call for all. “We cannot afford to stand still. We need action, not words, resources, not empty promises. Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. For many women home, a place that should be a sanctuary, becomes a site of unimaginable harm. In 2023 over 60% of women and girls who were killed were killed by intimate partners or family members. These staggering statistics provided by unlc and UN Women remind us why we must unite to address the epidemic of violence against women and girls.”
He said: “UNODC has been at the forefront of combating gender-based violence and advancing justice for victims. Through tools such as the Feminicide Brief and other resources for criminal justice practitioners, we work to analyze these heinous crimes and identify critical gaps in prevention, response, and accountability. Here in Nigeria, the Third Corruption Survey, which was presented in July 2004, provides valuable insight into how corruption perpetuates gender inequalities and exposes women to hate and vulnerability.”
He added that: “Women’s limited access to public roles and decision-making positions not only undermines equality but also fuels structural violence. This, in turn, reminds us that gender-based violence and corruption are deeply interconnected challenges that require coordinated responses.”
Since 2015, when NAPTIP was given the mandate to enforce the BAP Act in FCT, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind in the fight to unite free from violence. As a nation, we have made commendable strides in policy formulation, legislation, and activism. But we must acknowledge that much remains to be done to eradicate this menace.
NAPTIP Since Inception Has Rescued 23,900 Victims of Human Trafficking, Gotten 692 Convictions- Binta Bello
VP Shettima Demands More Private Sector Engagement In Healthcare Reforms
** Commissions Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre in Ogun
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for increased private sector participation in the ongoing reforms in the health sector and healthcare development across Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing critical deficits in the health sector through strategic partnerships and investments, noting however that the private sector has a very crucial role to play because the “government alone cannot shoulder this burden.”
The Vice President who stated this on Saturday when he commissioned the Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre in Sagamu, Ogun State, said the health facility is a vital addition to the nation’s emergency care infrastructure and a symbol of the government’s dedication to saving lives.
Senator Shettima revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a “comprehensive Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, including the creation of over 8,800 new Primary Healthcare Centres across the country and the upgrade of existing tertiary institutions to handle trauma, oncology, and infectious disease control.
“In a nation facing rising urbanisation, motorisation, and industrial risks, trauma care is no longer optional—it is essential,” VP Shettima added, describing the facility as “a lifeline and a symbol of preparedness in a nation that cares.”
He commended the Adegunwa family’s initiative, urging more philanthropists and corporate organisations to “rise beyond personal achievement and invest in nation-building.”
Describing the initiative as a model of private sector contribution to public health, VP Shettima said, “This centre is more than a birthday gift; it is a gift to humanity. It is a lifeline—a sanctuary where the wounded can find healing, and where families in despair can find hope”.
The facility built by the Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Foundation within the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital aligns with the Federal Government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
“The Administration is investing in a National Health Insurance Scheme that leaves no Nigerian behind, and a Digital Health Information Management System that ensures data drives diagnosis and delivery,” the Vice President stated.
The commissioning ceremony coincided with the 80th birthday celebration of Alhaji Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, a former chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and CEO of Essay Holdings Limited, the parent company of Rite Foods Limited.
In his remarks, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described the celebrant, Adegunwa, as “a philanthropist, entrepreneur and an astute businessman,” who even at the age of 80 has achieved greatness at all times.
Noting that the gathering was not only to honour Adegunwa but to also celebrate a legacy, a milestone and the father of modern philanthropy, Governor Abiodun expressed delight in commissioning the Trauma Centre donated by Pa Adegunwa to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
The Governor said it is a monumental facility established for the benefit of humanity and the betterment of mankind.
“In 2019 when I assumed office, this university was on its knees. It was like a ghost town; nobody came here for medical attention. It was one of the worst places I visited in my first term in office. In line with the recommendation of the committee we set up, we constituted the hospital governing board which did not exist for many years. I want to thank the Chief Medical Director for the great job she has done and the achievement that we are seeing today,” he stated.
Governor Abiodun thanked Vice President Shettima, who he described as a friend and a leader, saying it is gratifying to celebrate great leaders while they are still alive, thereby motivating others to do more.
Also, the donor and celebrant, Asiwaju Adebola Adegunwa, thanked the governor and all those who made the project a reality, noting that he is reminded by a passage in the Quran which enjoins everyone to spend from that which has been provided for them before it no longer exists.
He said right from his 56th birthday he had made a promise to give back to his community and impact as many lives as possible.
“Olabisi Onabanjo University holds a special place in my heart. On February 21, 1979, when the institution was still known as Obafemi Awolowo College of Health and Science, a group of six distinguished people visited my office to seek support for the institution.
“That meeting led to the establishment of a modern audio centre which I donated in celebration of my 58th birthday on April 4, 1995, and today, it’s still me with pride here with the current Chief Medical Director of the same hospital, Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatungase, among many who benefited from the medical facility during her medical training,” he explained.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Management, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Dr Kunle Hassan, said the trauma centre was designed to provide emergency medical care, management of trauma-related cases and significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality healthcare services to the people.
Hassan pledged that the management of the hospital would ensure effective utilisation of the facility and its maintenance so that it will continue to serve the community for generations to come.
He expressed profound gratitude to the donor, Chief Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, his foundation and members of his family for the remarkable gift.
“We had a budget of N800 million and instead of N800 million, he (Adegunwa) spent over N2 billion to build and equip the facility,” he said.
On his part, Oba Babatunde Adéwálé Àjàyí, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, while commending Chief Adegunwa for his selfless service to humanity, advocated for more federal presence in Remoland.
“Mr. Vice President, please convey to Mr. President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, our best wishes and let me note that we have a way of communicating privately but sometimes we say certain things publicly so that our people will know that we are trying.
“We need a lot of federal presence in Remoland. As of today, there is no single federal university or federal polytechnic in Remoland,” the traditional ruler said.
VP Shettima Demands More Private Sector Engagement In Healthcare Reforms
Teenager Killed, Another Injured in Fight Over Lady in Adamawa
A teenage boy has died while another is critically injured following a violent altercation over a lady during Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Tasha Dinya Village, Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident, which occurred around 4:30 a.m. on April 2, involved 18-year-old Idrisu Nuhu and his 16-year-old cousin, Ahmadu Lawali. According to the police, the two engaged in a fierce fight, attacking each other with machetes.
Idrisu sustained a deep cut on his head, while Ahmadu suffered a severe neck injury. Their relative, Nuhu Alhaji Muazu, rushed them to the Malabu Primary Health Care Clinic, where Idrisu was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor. Ahmadu remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment.
A Police sources said it recovered two cutlasses from the scene as exhibits, while the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been assigned to conduct a thorough investigation.
Teenager Killed, Another Injured in Fight Over Lady in Adamawa
Teenager Stabbed to Death Over Girlfriend Dispute in Niger State
By: Zagazola Makama
A violent altercation between two teenagers over a girlfriend has led to the death of one in Baburasa Village, Niger State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that, a heated argument between 15-year-old Ragai Dike and 14-year-old Kefas Monday escalated when Sunday Baba, a 25-year-old friend of Kefas, intervened. In the midst of the confrontation, Sunday Baba drew a knife and fatally stabbed Ragai Dike in the chest.
The victim was immediately rushed to the General Hospital in New-Bussa for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was photographed and deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
The suspects have been arrested by the Police.
Teenager Stabbed to Death Over Girlfriend Dispute in Niger State
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
