National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is a law enforcement agency of the federal government of Nigeria. It was established in July, 2003 to combat human trafficking and other similar human rights violations.

NAPTIP is a national compliance to the international obligation under the Trafficking in Persons Protocol and responds to the need to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons, especially women, and children, complementing the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention (UNTOC). It is one of the agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Since its inception, the Agency has investigated over ten thousand cases of human trafficking and prosecuted about five hundred offenders. Between 2003 and 2017, they convicted over 600 human traffickers and rescued about 21000 victims from Libya and other places.

Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, assumed office as the Director General of NAPTIP on September 21, 2021.

Origin
NAPTIP was established under a federal bill on July 14, 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2003) through the advocacy of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF).

Objectives
NAPTIP is mandated to enforce the Trafficking in Persons(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA) in Nigeria. In 2015, the Agency was also given the responsibility of implementing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAAP) Act which was then passed into law by the National Assembly.

Departments
To discharge its duty smoothly in combating human trafficking, the agency has the following departments and units:
 * Investigation and Monitoring
 * Legal and Prosecution.
 * Counselling & Rehabilitation
 * Public Enlightenment
 * Research and Programmes Development
 * Training and Manpower Development.
 * Administration.
 * Finance and Accounts.
 * Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department
 * Violence Against Persons Department (VAAP)
 * Special Duties Department

Units

 * Procurement
 * Press and Public Relations
 * Intelligence and International Cooperation.
 * Audit.
 * Reforms.
 * Rapid Response Squad (RRS)
 * Language

Zonal Commands
Currently, the agency has 9 zonal commands located in Lagos, Benin, Enugu, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Oshogbo, and Makurdi.

Working With CSOs
The agency partners with non-government organizations to carry out its tasks in different states. In 2013, NAPTIP started partnering with Devatop Centre for Africa Development, a youth-led anti-human trafficking organization, to train and empower youth in combating human trafficking in Nigeria, as well as investigating cases and rescuing victims. NAPTIP also partners with the Network of CSOs Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, and many others.

Working With EFCC
NAPTIP requested for more support from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in their quest to rid the country of human trafficking and its attendant consequences on the image of Nigeria. This request was made by the Director General of the agency, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Achievements
Since its inception, the agency has had over 600 convictions on human traffickers, as of September 2017. Between 2003 and 2017, over 3000 victims have been rescued by NAPTIP. The agency has been at the forefront of rescuing and rehabilitating Nigerians from Libya, with the help of the Federal Government, the International Office for Migration, and other international organizations, which has gotten a commendation from the United States.