The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi has raised the alarm that hundreds of young Nigerian boys and girls are currently trapped in some North African countries, especially Morocco and Tunisia.
She disclosed that most of the affected young Nigerians were trafficked under the guise of sporting opportunities abroad, explaining that on arrival at the destination countries, majority of them have been subjected to dehumanised experiences of prostitution, exploitative labour and organ harvest.
Waziri-Azi made the revelation on Saturday in Abuja during the aerobics exercises and sports organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation as part of activities marking the 2023 Civil Service Week.
The event was held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where the Federal Government called on workers to ensure that they undertake regular exercises to keep them healthy and improve productivity.
The week-long activities coincided on Saturday with Anti-human Trafficking Day and as such the occasion was also used to kick out the evils of human trafficking in Nigeria.
NAPTIP DG, Waziri-Azi, said the agency was concerned with the high number of young Nigerians who are usually deceived by criminals about non-existing sporting opportunities abroad.
She advised parents and individuals to always seek confirmation from NAPTIP on whether the sporting agent approaching them for a football opportunity abroad has been issued clearance from NAPTIP, insisting that only NAPTIP has the mandate to issue such clearance to intended travellers abroad.
She said: “Just this year, alone we have received a lot of complaints of Nigerians trapped in North Africa, especially in countries like Morocco and Tunisia who are unable to come back home.
“NAPTIP has a regulation called “Trafficking in Person Control of Activities and Centres Regulation 2019, If any sporting agent approaches you to say they have an opportunity for your child to either play football or participate in athletics abroad, the first question you should ask them is, have you gotten your clearance certificate from NAPTIP?
“Because that regulation 2019 gives NAPTIP the powers to control and issue clearance certificate to travel agents, tour operators, sporting agents and all Nigerians leaving the country for the purpose of labour recruitment or sporting activities or educational activities,” she said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, however, tasked civil servants in the country with the need to exercise regularly in order to maintain a healthy body and mind.
She was impressed by the turnout of the workers and full participation in jogging, football (novelty match between the Federal Ministries of Education and Defence) among other sporting activities.
She noted that a “healthy mind can only survive in a healthy body and with what I have seen this morning I can attest to the fact that all civil servants are very healthy, so please let us keep this up”.
The Head of Service reminded the civil servants that her office has provided a wellness centre, to ensure that every worker keeps their bodies and minds healthy, appealing to them to make use of the wellness centre.
Yemi-Esan noted that the centre is well equipped and that counsellors are always available there to counsel them both emotionally and nutritionally, saying that was the only way to keep healthy and improve productivity in the workplace.
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