NIGERIA: Customs, NAPTIP Partner To Tackle Human Trafficking, Stowaway Incidents

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in addressing the growing challenge of human trafficking, particularly stowaway cases and the illegal movement of minors across Nigeria’s borders.

Adeniyi made the commitment when he received the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, and a Board Member of the MMS Women of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF) Initiative, Hajia Lami Tumaka, during a courtesy visit to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

The visit formed part of the ongoing tripartite engagement between NAPTIP and MMS WoFHoF under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on promoting joint efforts and synergy in combating human trafficking nationwide.

In her remarks, Bello described human trafficking as an organized transnational crime that thrives on weak inter-agency coordination.

She noted that the Nigeria Customs Service, with its statutory role in border management and trade facilitation, remains a vital partner in preventing cross-border trafficking, migrant smuggling, and related crimes.

The NAPTIP boss called for enhanced cooperation between the two agencies in intelligence sharing, joint capacity-building programmes, sensitization of officers, coordinated operations, and community engagement in border areas.

On her part, Hajia Lami Tumaka disclosed plans for a joint national conference and dialogue on stowaway and human trafficking.

She explained that the event would deepen stakeholder understanding and strengthen preventive mechanisms against trafficking in persons.

In his response, the Customs chief emphasized that partnership and collaboration were central to tackling social vices, assuring NAPTIP of the Service’s full support in all interventions aimed at reducing human trafficking across the country.

Adeniyi reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to intelligence-driven border management and active participation in inter-agency initiatives to protect vulnerable persons from exploitation.