The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri Azi, says it is working towards bringing the service of the agency to the people of Kogi State.
The Director General made the disclosure when she received in audience the Kogi State Director General, of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission, Andullahi Wahaab Zakari and other Staff of PDCRC who are in NAPTIP to understudy the activities of the agency in the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law in the State.
While pointing out NAPTIP has offices in 29 states, 22 State task forces, 13 shelters across the country, says it would work towards establishing an office in the State in view of its strategic location.
The DG NAPTIP says it looks forward to a partnership that would be rewarding, stressed that Human Rights trafficking and Sexual Gender Based violence, areas of focus of NAPTIP, which happens at subnational, is now more noticed in the States and Local Government Area levels, reason why having an office in the State would make desired impact.
The Director General disclosed that the issues of human trafficking and Sexual Gender Based violence is becoming a societal concern, urged the Director General, PDCRC to make deliberate funding effort for the organization a priority to enable it tackle the challenges and meet it objectives.
While pointing out that recent data points to the fact that SGBV in the Federal Capital Territory is becoming higher than human trafficking, described the fight against SGBV as one that is becoming a challenge, called for stakeholders collaboration.
The NAPTIP DG advised on an annual action plan by the PDCRC that is implementable, cautioned against over ambitious plans in trying to implement the VAPP law.
Earlier in his remarks, the Kogi State Director General, of the Public Defender, Abdullahi Wahaab Zakari said the agency was established to offer indigent beneficiaries, people with disabilities legal services, added that it equally has the mandate to promote chapter 4 of the National Human Rights Commission.
The Director General PDCRC explained that the agency was presently added the responsibility of the implementation of the VAPP law, described the visit to NAPTIP as an eye opener that better positioned it for effective service delivery.
While pointing out that the PDCRC is looking beyond plans to the effective implementation of the VAPP law in the State, described the engagement and visit to NAPTIP as enriching and robust that would help the PDCRC in the implementation of the VAPP law.
