The Senate has ordered a comprehensive investigation into suspected human trafficking networks and travel agencies allegedly involved in the recruitment and exploitation of Nigerians abroad, particularly in Libya, as part of renewed efforts to combat modern slavery and protect vulnerable citizens.
The resolution followed the adoption of a joint report by the Senate Committees on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Foreign Affairs, and Special Duties on the urgent need to protect Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and other human rights abuses abroad.
Presenting the report, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, Senator Anthony Yaro, who represents Gombe South, said the committees had consulted relevant stakeholders and examined an earlier motion on the plight of Nigerians subjected to trafficking and exploitation in Libya.
The Senate, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urged the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to investigate suspected trafficking syndicates and travel agencies allegedly connected to the illegal recruitment and exploitation of Nigerians overseas.
The investigation is expected to examine recruitment channels, financial transactions, travel arrangements and other relevant evidence to identify individuals and organisations facilitating trafficking and establish grounds for prosecution.
The lawmakers also called for a review and stricter enforcement of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Child Rights Act, 2003, to strengthen the legal framework for prosecuting offenders and safeguarding vulnerable persons.
As part of measures to improve institutional capacity, the Senate recommended increased funding for NAPTIP and other relevant agencies to enhance intelligence gathering, investigations, prosecution of offenders and support services for victims.
It further urged the Federal Government to establish a National Reintegration and Protection Programme for returning trafficking victims and vulnerable Nigerians.
The proposed programme, according to the Senate's recommendations, would be coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in collaboration with NAPTIP and other relevant institutions.
The initiative is expected to provide returning victims with the necessary protection, rehabilitation and reintegration support to facilitate their recovery and reduce their vulnerability to further exploitation.
On international cooperation, the Senate called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic engagement with Libya through bilateral and multilateral channels.
The proposed engagement would focus on intelligence sharing, improved border management, dismantling trafficking networks, facilitating the repatriation of victims and promoting safe and legal migration pathways for Nigerians.
During deliberations, Akpabio drew attention to the dangers posed by trafficking networks, recounting the case of three children allegedly abducted in Akwa Ibom State and moved through Aba, Katsina and Lagos before they were nearly trafficked to Ghana.
According to the Senate President, the children had been missing for 93 days before they were rescued.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for their roles in securing the children's release and pledged to provide a university scholarship for the eldest child.
The incident prompted broader discussions among lawmakers on the need to strengthen domestic security measures, particularly through improved monitoring of residential accommodation and short-let apartments.
Akpabio advocated a stricter Know Your Tenant policy, arguing that landlords should maintain verifiable information about their tenants to assist security agencies in tracing individuals suspected of criminal activities.
He warned that inadequate tenant identification could create opportunities for criminals to conceal their identities and evade detection.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Aminu Tambuwal also called for stronger tenancy regulations, recalling his unsuccessful attempt to secure the adoption of a tenancy registration bill during his tenure as Speaker.
Tambuwal said Sokoto State subsequently introduced a similar framework through its Rent Control and Management Commission, urging other states to consider comparable measures to improve accountability in the rental sector.
Other lawmakers, however, emphasised that the effectiveness of any new legislation would depend largely on proper implementation and enforcement.
Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, argued that Nigeria's principal challenge was not necessarily the absence of laws against trafficking but the failure to enforce existing legislation and hold offenders accountable.
Senators also called for intensified public enlightenment and expanded employment opportunities to address the economic vulnerabilities that expose some Nigerians to traffickers and deceptive overseas recruitment schemes.
The Senate's resolutions underscore the need for a coordinated national response that combines effective law enforcement, international cooperation, victim protection and preventive measures to dismantle trafficking networks.
The proposed investigation is expected to establish the extent of any involvement by the identified travel agencies and recruitment networks, with the ultimate objective of identifying suspects and building evidence for prosecution where wrongdoing is established.
