…Funding is seriously hindering performance of NAPTIP
By Dele Ogbodo
The Head, Intelligence and International Co-operation Unit of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Angela Agbayekhai, has said that only two prominent Nigerian girls died in the recent Italy saga in which a total of 26 African trafficked persons died.
She debunked the death of the 26 victims as Nigerian, while fielding questions from a radio station monitored in Abuja, said the agency has done its investigation on the death row and it was discovered that 2 prominent Nigerian girls died in that saga.
She said: ”Concerning the 26 girls that died in Italy, when that news broke out it was alleged that the 26 victims were all Nigerians, but investigation was carried out and at the end of the day we realized that there were just 2 Nigerians that were involved in that death row and at the end we lost only 2 prominent Nigerians.”
Government , according to her, has failed in properly funding the agency it set up to fight human trafficking, explaining: ‘’Government is also failing in this direction because you set up an agency and it is not well funded and so how do you want them to work.”
Agbayekhai who is soliciting the support of corporate bodies and well meaning Nigerians to assist the agency, said the lack of fund is a serious challenge on why NAPTIP cannot meet all it obligations and mandates, stressing: ‘’I want to let you know that the agency is seriously in need of fund.”
On the need to set up trust fund for returnee victims, she said, there is for this financial platform to help the victims as it is becoming increasingly difficult for NAPTIP to carter for the need of the victims.
She said: ”NAPTIP has a trafficking trust fund where looted money are being put and please note that there are corruptions at every level of the society but NAPTIP will ensure that if these funds is put in place it will be accounted for especially with the new DG that we have as she is a no nonsense person.”