Assessment of Human Trafficking and National Polices and It’s Elimination in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
- The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the causes of human trafficking in Nigeria
- To evaluate the national polices on human trafficking
- To suggest on how to eliminate human trafficking in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
Review of related literature
Human trafficking in Nigeria
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimate, 10% of those forced into sex work in Western Europe are women from West Africa, and a good number of them are Nigerians (UNODC, 2012). The debasement of women in West Africa including Nigeria makes women be vulnerable to traffickers. Women are perceived to be inferior to men, thereby encouraging gender discrimination. Families prefer to invest more in their male children even to the detriment of their female children. This has encouraged low school enrolment for girls. Women/ girls low education often subjects them to lowly paid jobs, and this makes them be susceptible to human traffickers. They are, therefore, ready to do anything to escape poverty and lack. Even in the household, when there are dwindling resources, women are left to become “heads” and therefore assume the role of breadwinners. This also makes them be vulnerable to traffickers. The high unemployment rate, low status of Nigerian women and the predominance of women in small scale informal sectors have fuelled women vulnerability to the illicit trade. Enaikele and Olutayo (2011) rightly posit that trafficking is majorly a gender biased phenomenon since most of their victims are women and girls. Human trafficking is noted to be the only crime where women dominate as the victims, perpetrators, and advocates against the crime at the same time. Human trafficking victims are subjected to risks which include: contacting HIV/AIDS, developing depression, suicidal tendencies, post-traumatic stress syndrome, drug and alcohol addiction, and sterility. In Nigeria, two types of human trafficking exist, and they include internal and external trafficking. Internal trafficking is the trafficking of persons within the Nigerian borders. Example, when people are trafficked from rural to urban areas or from one state to the other. External Trafficking is the trafficking of persons outside the national borders. Example, when persons are trafficked from Nigeria to another country (ies). West African destinations for trafficked Nigerians are usually Togo , Cote d’ivore, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Their prominent Europe destinations include Italy, Germany, Venezuela, Belgium, U.K and Netherlands. All states are involved in human trafficking, but some states are noted as suppliers of trafficked persons.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine assessment of human trafficking and national policies and its elimination in Nigeria. NAPTIP, Lagos form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain assessment of human trafficking and national policies and its elimination in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of assessment of human trafficking and national policies and its elimination in Nigeria.
Summary
This study was on assessment of human trafficking and national policies and its elimination in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the causes of human trafficking in Nigeria, to evaluate the national polices on human trafficking and to suggest on how to eliminate human trafficking in Nigeria. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from NAPTIP. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Human trafficking has been attributed to poverty, corrupt practices by immigration and police officers, the weak legal system, internal armed conflicts, the influence of peer groups and globalization. Human trafficking debases a country’s image. It subverts the developmental efforts of the government. It impacts the political, economic, social, scientific and material development of a nation. There is a need for countries to be committed to putting an end to this inhuman trade
Recommendation
Stiff penalties should be meted out to illicit trade in Nigeria
Government, Non-Governmental Organisations and Societies should create awareness through seminars, conferences, workshop, and various media to sensitise people on the strategies and consequences of human trafficking. The government should make concerted efforts to empower women educationally, socially and economically. This is because women are vulnerable to traffickers as a result of cultural inhibitions which have continued to inhibit their access to opportunities.
References
- Adaramola, Z (2016) 1m trafficked in Nigeria Annually – NAPTIP. Daily Trust, May 31st
- Akinlami, T (2013) The Child Right Acts (2003): Provisions, Application and You. Being a paper presented by Taiwo Akinlami at a training for Lagos State teachers sponsored by HDI which was held on June 2013
- Charteris, A. German, C. Hansrani, Z. Li, E. and Merchant, J (2018) Health at Risk: Health Implications of Human Trafficking in the Context of Globalization and Migration Global Health Magazine, Juxtaposition. University of Toronto
- Chrisma, (1984) cited in Robinson J.O and Madaki, A “Social Issues in Nigeria Development: A General Overview” International Journal of African and Asian Studies (2014) Vol. 5
- Enaikele, M. D and Olutayo, A. O (2011) Human Trafficking in Nigeria: Implication for Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 3(11)
- Essien, H. O (2013) “Patterns of Trafficking in Persons and Empowerment Strategies in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Being a thesis presented to the Department of Health and Physical Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka in fulfillment of the award of Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Public Health Education
- Ezeamalu, B. (2018) “Why we are partnering with witch – doctors to curb human trafficking. Premium Times, 11th February Human Trafficking by the Numbers/ Human Rights First (2017). https://www.humanrightf Maputo Protocol (1995) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/maputo_protocol
- Mashi M. A. (2007) Child Trafficking in Nigeria: Analysis of Nigeria’s Response to the Libreville Platform of Action” – Joint Initiative between the UNICEF West and Central African Regional Office and UNICEF Nigeria Country Office. A paper presented by Mohammed Ali Mashi, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Service at a workshop in Bauchi organised jointly by Nigerian Immigration Service and UNICEF
