International Human Trafficking: Critical Appraisal of Strength and Weaknesses of Nigeria’s Legal Frameworks
الموضوعات : مجله بین المللی علوم اجتماعی
Eddy Akpomera
1
(Department of International Relations, University of Benin, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria)
Kingsley Ufuoma Omoyibo
2
(Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria)
الکلمات المفتاحية: Trafficking in persons, legal provisions, prosecution, Corruption, human smuggling,
ملخص المقالة :
Nigeria has been facing the immense challenge of international trafficking in persons for sexualexploitation and forced labor into countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Being an international criminal activitydriven by high profits, Nigeria's adoption of a regulatory policy is expressed in the series of legal provisions todeal with the army of traffickers. In desperation, within a space of 12 years, Nigeria has churned out two legalframeworks (one now repealed) owing to the enormity of the inhuman effects of the modern slave trade to hercitizenry locally and internationally. This paper has attempted a critical appraisal of the legal frameworks,especially the new law - the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition, Enforcement and Administration) Act 2015 - toexpose strengths, contradictions and weaknesses. It has also highlighted the operational reality that unless thepervasive corruption amongst personnel of government agencies and security outfits aiding traffickers in illegalmigration of victims is tackled, and a positive synergy developed between Nigeria's Immigration Service and theanti-trafficking agency, NAPTIP, Nigeria's success in reducing on-going trafficking in persons may be veryminimal.
