UN warns Nigeria: Poverty fuels trafficking, not policy

DDM News

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a strong warning to the Nigerian government that its policies alone will not end human trafficking unless the root causes of poverty, desperation, and marginalisation are urgently addressed.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that this caution was delivered by the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, during a press conference organized by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to commemorate the 2025 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Speaking in Abuja, Toure emphasized that trafficking thrives in environments of economic hardship, neglect, and social exclusion.

“Trafficking festers where vulnerability is highest, in underserved communities, border regions, and among marginalised youth,” Toure declared.

He made it clear that while Nigeria’s anti-trafficking policy framework is growing, it must be matched with community-based interventions that reach the grassroots.

“Policies alone cannot win this fight,” he said.

“We must redirect energy and resources to the grassroots, empowering local leaders, traditional institutions, and community networks.”

This year’s global theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime: End the Exploitation,” provided the backdrop for his remarks.

Toure described trafficking as a calculated, transnational business empire built on human suffering and said it must be dismantled through serious international collaboration.

“Trafficking is not an incidental crime,” he added.

“It is a multi-billion dollar enterprise profiting from the vulnerability of our women, children, and men.”

Toure reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to Nigeria, stating the agency stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with NAPTIP and the Nigerian government.

He praised NAPTIP’s national coordination and enforcement efforts, calling the agency an example of “exemplary leadership” in combating trafficking.

Several international initiatives were cited as part of UNODC’s support, including the EU-funded Migration Governance Support project, the Netherlands-backed PROMIS Project targeting trafficking and smuggling, and the Switzerland-supported National Action Plan Implementation (2022–2026).

Toure stressed that policy and enforcement must go hand-in-hand with victim support, economic empowerment, and sustained community outreach.

He emphasized the need for educational campaigns, youth employment opportunities, and survivor reintegration programs, especially in high-risk regions.

“The frontline of this battle is where poverty and desperation are exploited,” he noted.

He warned that trafficking will persist if the state continues to overlook the social and economic conditions driving young people into the hands of traffickers.

Calling for urgency and unity, Toure said, “Let me be clear: UNODC will deepen its partnership with Nigeria, working with government, civil society, and survivors to shatter criminal empires, uplift victims, and build a future where no Nigerian is bought or sold.”

The 2025 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is being marked globally on July 30 and aims to raise awareness of trafficking as a criminal enterprise while promoting protection and justice for victims.

In Nigeria, NAPTIP leads the commemoration with the support of international partners including UNODC, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and several foreign governments.

This year’s focus highlights the organised, profit-driven nature of trafficking and urges stronger global alliances to dismantle it.

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