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Viewing cable 07LAGOS185, NIGERIA 2007 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07LAGOS185 2007-03-13 15:46 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Lagos
VZCZCXRO4066
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0185/01 0721546
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131546Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8605
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8430
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0050
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0018
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0189
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0419
RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0034
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0755
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0087
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0021
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0434
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0023
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0035
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1190
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0001
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0066
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0195
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0109
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0175
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0176
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0183
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 LAGOS 000185 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/RSA 
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK 
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR 
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH 
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON 
STATE FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF SMIG
SUBJECT: NIGERIA 2007 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: 06 STATE 202745 
 
LAGOS 00000185  001.2 OF 011 
 
 
1.  (U) The following is Mission Nigeria's submission for the 
annual trafficking in persons (TIP) report.  Paragraphs 
respond to questions in reftel. 
 
------------------ 
27. (SBU) Overview 
------------------ 
 
-- A. Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country 
for trafficked persons.  Trafficking also occurs within 
country.  National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in 
Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) does not keep 
numbers of trafficking victims but uses a 2002 UNICEF 
estimate that out of 15 million children in the labor force, 
40 percent (6 million) were trafficked.  United Nations 
Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates between 50,000 and 70,000 
African women are in Italy in prostitution, of which 70 
percent are from Nigeria.  Common sources of trafficking 
information are NAPTIP, International Organization of 
Migration (IOM), UN Crime and Research Institute (UNCRI), UN 
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UNICEF.  NAPTIP 
estimates female trafficking victims outnumber males by a 
ratio of 4 to 1. 
 
-- B. The Nigerian government has made efforts to combat 
trafficking in Nigeria, but has thus far failed to provide 
adequate funding.  Moreover, the government's limited efforts 
are hampered by the country's porous borders, corruption, and 
endemic poverty. 
 
NAPTIP is the lead agency for all trafficking in persons 
(TIP) issues.  The NAPTIP Act and the Child Rights Act 
provide the legal framework to combat trafficking, and the 
government has increased the budget for NAPTIP.  With regards 
to prevention of trafficking, the government has made 
progress in its campaign to sensitize citizens to the dangers 
of trafficking.  However, trafficking remains widespread 
because of endemic poverty, general ignorance, and corruption 
which aid traffickers.  Prosecution has been limited. 
Although the NAPTIP Act criminalizes trafficking, in practice 
the courts move slowly and NAPTIP has secured few convictions 
relative to the number of cases.  With regard to protection 
of the victims of trafficking, NAPTIP lacks adequate funding 
to maintain its shelters.  NAPTIP lacks adequate funds to 
provide victims with retraining or microcredit loans and 
often looks to international NGOs and foreign governments for 
assistance.  Overall, there is no evidence trafficking is 
decreasing and it may in fact be on the rise as widespread 
poverty continues to encourage desperate measures. 
 
Trafficking has received increased attention in Nigeria, and 
the government has increased public sensitization through its 
publicity campaigns.  These campaigns include posters, 
stories in the print media, and radio commercials. 
Sensitization campaigns have had some effect, as has the 
harrowing testimony of former trafficking victims.  For 
example, "Gloria" spoke at a TIP forum for the media in 
 
LAGOS 00000185  002.2 OF 011 
 
 
Lagos, where she shared her story of crossing the Sahara 
despite constant hunger and repeated rapes.  The publicity 
has forced some traffickers to move their operations to more 
remote sections of the country.  While the media publicity is 
generally anti-trafficking, some NGOs complain that Nigerian 
movies glamorize trafficking. 
 
Traffickers often employ deception to lure their victims. 
Traffickers will often lie to the victim about the work 
he/she will do.  While some TIP victims know they will go 
into prostitution, many victims are told, and believe, they 
will pick fruit or be a domestic servant, and only later find 
out they will work in hard labor or the sex industry.  In 
parts of the south, traffickers sometimes employ voodoo to 
frighten the victim into doing the traffickers' bidding. 
Some young victims are desperate to travel to Europe and 
unaware of the extremely difficult trek crossing the Sahara. 
If the women reach Europe, they often are kept virtual 
prisoners until they can repay the cost of their journey and 
turn a profit for the trafficker.  Sometimes parents will 
agree to sacrifice a child, believing it for the good of the 
rest of the family.  These parents will often convince or 
coerce the child into participating, using the example of 
prostitutes and laborers who have sent money to support their 
family or to build a house.  Traffickers will sometimes send 
a little money to the family for a while and then stop the 
remittances and claim the child has escaped.  Traffickers 
most often target the young and poor, aged between 8 and 25. 
These men, women, and children are intended for prostitution, 
domestic work, or field work. 
 
International trafficking destinations include but are not 
limited to the ECOWAS countries, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, 
Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, 
Norway, and Ireland.  Transit countries include countries in 
north and west Africa, particularly Libya and Morocco.  While 
Morocco and Libya are not considered destination countries, 
often victims will live and work in these countries for an 
indefinite period of time.  The absence of travel 
restrictions makes ECOWAS countries a destination for 
trafficking, but traffickers will seek greater profits in 
Europe.  TIP victims in Europe are often involved in the sex 
industry.  Italy is a prime destination for Nigerians working 
in the sex industry, as many Nigerian sex workers are 
concentrated in Turin.  Much of the Edo State trafficking 
goes to Italy.  TIP victims in the UK are often in domestic 
work.  In Saudi Arabia, TIP victims are often sent to 
prostitution or domestic labor.  Young boys are reportedly 
sent to Saudi Arabia as camel jockeys.  In Nigeria and the 
rest of Africa, TIP victims are working in prostitution, 
domestic work or field work.  There is a large amount of 
internal trafficking, going from rural areas and states such 
as Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, and northern states to the 
urban centers of Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. 
 
False documents are a common way to move TIP victims. 
Traffickers will often use the passport of a girl who has 
already traveled with a legitimate visa.  The traffickers 
will substitute the photo and the victim will travel using 
 
LAGOS 00000185  003.2 OF 011 
 
 
the doctored passport.  Traffickers work in a syndicate which 
includes the head pimp, usually a wealthy individual referred 
to as the "madam" or "italo sponsor" who heads the syndicate. 
 The madam is often a former prostitute.  These madams see 
becoming a trafficker the avenue to profit.  This creates an 
insatiable need by the traffickers for more girls.  The 
syndicate includes recruiters, "trolleys" who are in charge 
of the transport of the women and obtaining proper documents, 
complicit police, immigration and/or Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs staff, and sometimes voodoo priests who practice 
witchcraft to intimidate the TIP victims.  Some states such 
as Ekiti and Cross River have passed the Child Rights Act 
(see Section 29), while Edo State has enacted a Criminal Code 
Amendment (see Section 29) to deal specifically with human 
trafficking.  The government has doubled NAPTIP funding in 
the past year, though nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) 
say the funding is still inadequate. 
 
-- C. While NAPTIP's sole function is to deal with 
trafficking, there have been limitations to NAPTIP's 
effectiveness.  Corruption is endemic in the police, Nigerian 
Immigration Service (NIS), and the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA).  The Nigerian police are poorly paid and prone 
to corruption.  The government has doubled the budget for 
NAPTIP, but NAPTIP still lacks adequate funding to support 
field investigations and adequate shelter facilities. 
Rehabilitation training has so far been weak; counselors are 
available but NGOs report there are few services available to 
TIP victims once they leave the NAPTIP shelter. 
 
-- D. The government monitors its anti-trafficking efforts 
through a quarterly anti-TIP stakeholders forum.  NAPTIP does 
not issue an annual report to the public, but does respond to 
queries.  NAPTIP lacks basic data on numbers of trafficking 
victims.  However, NAPTIP has been working with the American 
Bar Association (ABA) to develop a database of traffickers 
and their victims. 
 
-------------------- 
28. (SBU) Prevention 
-------------------- 
 
-- A. The government acknowledges TIP is a problem in Nigeria. 
 
-- B. NAPTIP is the lead agency for trafficking matters. 
Other agencies involved include the Nigeria Police Force 
(NPF), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA), Ministry of Labor and Productivity, and the 
Ministry of Information, National Orientation and Cooperation 
and Integration in Africa are involved in anti-TIP efforts. 
 
-- C. NAPTIP has conducted anti-trafficking public 
information and education campaigns.  These campaigns largely 
involve posters, commercials, programs, and forums to 
sensitize the public to the problem of trafficking.  NAPTIP 
has targeted schools for its primary education drive.  These 
efforts have forced traffickers to move their recruiting 
activity to more remote areas.  However, NGOs report 
trafficking has merely moved, not decreased.  NGOs have also 
 
LAGOS 00000185  004.2 OF 011 
 
 
been active in sensitization campaigns to target potential 
trafficking victims.  These campaigns generally consist of a 
rally or conference, a distribution of anti-trafficking 
paraphernalia, and publicity through the media. 
 
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) worked with 
anti-trafficking partners in Osun State to increase awareness 
of the problem of trafficking.  The objective of the project 
was to encourage grass roots participation to reduce factors 
such as poverty and lack of skills, which lead to trafficking. 
 
NAPTIP acknowledges that while they have worked to control 
demand, more needs to be done.  NAPTIP held a forum in 
Abeokuta, Ogun State to stem the use of child labor from 
Benin in farms. 
 
-- D.  The government's education reform plan is called the 
Universal Basic Education (UBE) program.  The UBE is an 
attempt to keep children in school by improving facilities 
and establishing basic education standards.  However, 
implementation of the UBE has been spotty.  The national 
passage of the Child Rights Act in 2005 stiffened penalties 
for trafficking in children.  Some, but not all, states have 
passed the Child Rights Act. 
 
-- E.  The government has several different methods to work 
with NGOs active in TIP.  The National Consultative Forum 
includes local NGOs, international NGOs, and representatives 
of state anti-trafficking networks.  This group works with 
NAPTIP on trafficking issues.  UN and foreign governments 
have worked closely with NAPTIP on trafficking issues. 
UNICEF supports the NAPTIP shelter in Lagos with food and 
training equipment.  Local NGOs and churches have a cordial 
relationship with NAPTIP, the agency participates in NGO 
conferences and sometimes NAPTIP refers TIP victims to the 
NGOs for rehabilitative work.  In Benin City, NAPTIP often 
refers victims to Idia Renaissance and the Committee for the 
Support and Dignity of Women (Cosudow).  The Women's 
Trafficking and Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), 
run by the Vice-President's wife Titi Abubakar, was once 
prominent in combating trafficking but the NGO has reportedly 
reduced its public profile as the Vice-President's feud with 
President Obasanjo has accelerated.  NGOs work in a 
consultative manner with NAPTIP, but the agency makes the 
final decisions. 
 
-- F.  NAPTIP works closely with the Nigerian Immigration 
Service (NIS) to monitor trafficking patterns.  The NAPTIP 
Deputy Director is a highly respected senior Immigration 
Officer who has direct and unimpeded access to the 
Comptroller General of Immigration.  NAPTIP's sensitization 
training has helped immigration authorities to recognize 
trafficking on the border.  According to NAPTIP officials, 
the large flow of migrants across Nigeria's borders makes it 
difficult for immigration officials to tell the difference 
between trafficking and alien smuggling.  NAPTIP has been 
working with the American Bar Association (ABA) on developing 
a database of traffickers and their victims.  This database, 
when operational, will assist police and immigration in 
 
LAGOS 00000185  005.2 OF 011 
 
 
identifying traffickers and their victims. 
 
-- G.  In addition to the national stakeholders forum, NAPTIP 
has established anti-trafficking stakeholders forums in six 
regional zones and in twenty-two of the hardest-hit states. 
The national forum includes representatives of state working 
groups, NGOs, and international agencies such as UNICEF, 
USAID, ILO, and IOM.  The regional and state forums meet on a 
quarterly basis, and consist of local government officials, 
traditional rulers, police, immigration authorities, 
churches, and nongovernmental organizations.  The Economic 
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent 
Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission 
(ICPC) handle issues of public corruption.  The EFCC is the 
lead prosecuting agency on corruption issues. 
 
-- H.  The government developed a plan of action in 2006 to 
deal with trafficking.  The plan is awaiting approval by the 
President.  NAPTIP developed the plan, in conjunction with 
NGOs.  Some NGOs say they were not consulted on the plan. 
The government has not disseminated its action plan. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
29. (SBU) Investigation and Prosecution of Traffickers 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
-- A.  The government has passed the Trafficking in Persons, 
(Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Acts, 2003 
and 2005, as well as the Child Rights Act (2002 and 2005). 
The Child Rights Act increased sanctions and established the 
best interests of the child as an operating principle.  The 
laws cover trafficking for both sexual and non-sexual 
purposes, as well as internal and external forms of 
trafficking. 
 
In addition, Traffickers can be prosecuted under the Criminal 
Code (applicable in southern states of Nigeria), the Penal 
Code (applicable in northern states of Nigeria), the Edo 
State law Against Human Trafficking (applicable only to Edo 
State), the Labour Act (1974), and the Immigration Act. 
These laws, taken together, are adequate to cover the scope 
of TIP in Nigeria. 
 
-- B. Under the Child Rights Act, the penalty for trafficking 
people for sexual exploitation purposes is ten years to life 
imprisonment and/or a 200,000 Naira fine (approximately 
$1560).  The penalty for trafficking for purposes of labor 
exploitation is a five year imprisonment and/or a 100,000 
Naira fine (approximately $780). 
 
The Criminal Code issues a sentence of two years imprisonment 
for procuring, pimping, and exploiting prostitutes. 
 
The Penal Code states trafficking in women for immoral 
purposes carries a seven-year sentence. 
 
-- C. The Criminal Code states forced labor has a penalty of 
imprisonment. 
 
 
LAGOS 00000185  006.2 OF 011 
 
 
The Penal Code states forced labor has a penalty of one year 
in prison. 
 
The Child Rights Act provides a ten-year sentence for 
trafficking children for hawking or begging. 
 
The Criminal and Penal Codes carry a 14-year sentence for 
externally trafficking persons into slavery. 
 
-- D. The penalty for rape is ten years and/or a 200,000 
naira fine, while forcible sexual assault carries a two-year 
jail term.  The penalty for rape is the same as trafficking 
for purposes of commercial exploitation. 
 
-- E.  Prostitution is criminalized in some states, while in 
other states prostitution is legal but solicitation and other 
activities connected to prostitution are criminalized. 
Activities of those connected to prostitution are 
criminalized. However, prostitution is widespread in Nigeria, 
centered mainly at hotels and crossroads areas such as truck 
stops. 
 
-- F.  Between March 2006 and March 2007 the government 
conducted eighty investigations, filed twenty-three cases in 
court, and obtained three convictions.  The penalties in the 
three convictions were: 
 
-Two years imprisonment with hard labor 
-Two years imprisonment 
-One year imprisonment and a 150,000 Naira fine 
(approximately $1150) 
 
The government prosecutes trafficking in persons for labor 
purposes 
 
-- G. International traffickers work in syndicates which 
include the head pimp, usually a wealthy individual referred 
to as the "madam" or "italo sponsor" who heads the syndicate. 
 These syndicates can be large or small.  While there is no 
official government involvement in trafficking, sometimes 
individual government officials are involved, including 
members of the police, immigration authorities, or Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs staff.  The police are often reluctant to 
investigate after accepting bribes from suspects. 
Employment, travel, and tourism agencies often front for 
traffickers.  In Kano, travel agencies connected with the 
Hajj have helped traffic young girls to Saudi Arabia. 
Traffickers' most effective recruiting technique is word of 
mouth, recruiting people who return to find the victims. 
Sometimes the victim's parents participate with the 
traffickers in the deception, but usually it is a relative or 
a neighbor who refers the victims to the traffickers.  The 
traffickers' profits are usually used for their own benefit. 
Traffickers will sometimes use their money to build houses in 
Nigeria and help their families back home. 
 
-- H.  The government investigates cases of trafficking, 
using undercover sting operations and granting immunity for 
cooperating suspects.  However, NGOs report NAPTIP uses these 
 
LAGOS 00000185  007.2 OF 011 
 
 
tactics only to a limited extent.  Criminal procedure does 
not prohibit the police from covert operations. 
 
-- I.  The government provides specialized training to 
increase trafficking awareness.  NAPTIP has worked with the 
police and NIS to sensitize them to trafficking.  NAPTIP has 
also worked with its own investigators on improving its 
techniques.  NAPTIP has worked with judges and prosecutors to 
familiarize them with the NAPTIP Act and the provisions of 
the law. 
 
-- J.  The government cooperates with several countries on 
trafficking cases, notably Benin, Togo, Italy, and Cameroon. 
NAPTIP has three cooperative investigations on trafficking 
with Benin, and one each with Ghana, Niger, and Spain. 
Nigeria has a bilateral agreement with Benin, but not Ghana, 
Niger, and Spain.  NAPTIP has worked with Benin and Togo to 
repatriate TIP victims and prosecute traffickers.  The 
Nigerian Embassy in Italy works with the Italian government 
on repatriation by providing documents for the TIP victims. 
NAPTIP and the NIS have worked with the European Union (EU) 
to help immigration officials identify false documents used 
by traffickers to transport their victims.  The Nigerian 
government through NAPTIP played a major facilitating role in 
the organizations of the regional conference on TIP in 
Nigeria in July 2006 by ECOWAS and the Economic Community of 
Central African States (ECCAS).  The objectives of the 
conference as articulated were; (a) To develop a common 
understanding among countries of Central and West Africa with 
respect to the definition and manifestation of TIP in both 
regions, taking into consideration cultural and traditional 
perspectives and practices; (b) To promote and strengthen 
regional and interregional cooperation between ECOWAS and in 
the fight against TIP; and (c) To adopt a common Plan of 
Action (PA) for both regions.  It was agreed that a Regional 
Expert Working Group would be held in May in Gabon 
preparatory to the regional conference that developed the PA 
and Multilateral Cooperative Agreement on TIP for ECCAS and 
ECOWAS States. 
 
-- K.  The government has established extradition agreements 
to repatriate traffickers.  However, there have been no cases 
involving extradition of traffickers. 
 
-- L.  Until September 2006 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) documentation office would issue any travel documents 
for an additional fee (a bribe), without checking the 
legitimacy of the applicant.  Many people including 
traffickers used these documents to travel across borders. 
In September 2006 the MFA replaced the entire staff of the 
documentation office with new workers.  There have been no 
reported instances of official government complicity in 
trafficking.  However, individual officials can be involved 
in assisting trafficking by issuing documents or by looking 
the other way when they encounter traffickers.  There is 
reportedly strong suspicion of complicity in trafficking by 
individual NIS border officials. 
 
-- M.  In September 2006 the government fired the Head of the 
 
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Documentation Office and the entire staff for its involvement 
in the travel documents scandal.  The case against the 
documentation staff is still in the courts.  There has been 
no resolution of the case of the police inspector arrested in 
2005 for releasing two subjects in Abuja after being given 
specific orders to hold them. 
 
-- N.  Nigeria has not been identified as having a child sex 
tourism problem.  However, children under 18 are often 
trafficked for sexual purposes. 
 
-- O.  The government has signed, ratified, and taken steps 
to implement ILO Convention 182 (November 2, 2002), ILO 
Convention 29 and 105 (October 17, 1960), Optional Protocol 
on the Rights of the Child (April 20, 2001) and the Protocol 
to Prevent, Suppress and Punish TIP (March 29, 2001). 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
30. (SBU) Protection and Assistance to Victims 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
-- A.  The government does not provide permanent residency 
status, only temporary residency status, to TIP victims.  The 
government provides assistance to TIP victims through NAPTIP 
shelter services.  The shelters provide legal, medical, and 
psychological assistance for the victims.  The shelters 
provide only temporary services, and generally not for more 
than six months.  NAPTIP will keep the victims at the shelter 
to obtain their testimony for prosecution of traffickers. 
TIP victims with sexually-transmitted diseases or who are HIV 
positive can obtain medical assistance while in the shelter. 
NAPTIP has an agreement with certain hospitals and clinics to 
provide service to TIP victims.  According to NAPTIP, 352 TIP 
victims passed through their shelters.  NAPTIP maintains 
shelters in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Sokoto, Kano, and Uyo. 
 
-- B.  The government sometimes provides funding to NGOs for 
assistance.  However, as NAPTIP is underfunded this 
assistance is small.  NAPTIP will often refer TIP victims to 
NGOs for rehabilitation assistance, and in the past referred 
victims to WOTCLEF for rehabilitation.  Some NGOs however, 
are critical of NAPTIP rehabilitation services. 
 
-- C.  The government works with IOM to receive TIP victims 
from overseas, and with local NGOs to receive internal TIP 
victims.  IOM handles voluntary repatriations, NAPTIP handles 
involuntary repatriations.  IOM will transfer the victims to 
NAPTIP's jurisdiction.  NAPTIP sends the TIP victims to the 
shelters for long and short term counseling, rehabilitation, 
and reintegration services.  After the victims leave the 
shelter, they can contact their state governments for 
assistance. 
 
-- D.  The rights of victims are protected under the NAPTIP 
Act.  NAPTIP does not jail victims, though the agency keeps 
foreign TIP victims in shelters under guard until they are 
repatriated.  Victims are not fined or prosecuted. 
 
-- E.  The government encourages victims to assist in 
 
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investigation and prosecution of trafficking.  Victims can 
file suit against their traffickers but rarely do so because 
of poverty or fear.  NAPTIP will obtain the victims' 
testimony for prosecution and after that the victim will be 
free to return home.  Most victims will return to their 
families, but there are instances where the victim has 
nowhere to go.  There is a victim restitution program, which 
allows victims to obtain compensation from the traffickers. 
It has been established but it is reportedly not effective as 
few victims have obtained compensation. 
 
-- F.  The government provides protection through the police. 
 NAPTIP maintains three shelters in Lagos, Abuja, and Benin 
City.  NAPTIP maintains a rehabilitation shelter in Kano. 
NAPTIP does not have any funds to reintegrate victims into 
society, but sometimes IOM and UNICEF have provided 
reintegration support funds.  Because only a small percentage 
of Nigerians are able to find formal sector employment, 
legitimate employment opportunities for rehabilitated 
trafficking victims are severely limited.  Child victims are 
placed in shelters and reunited with their families if 
possible.  Sometimes families cannot be located or are 
unwilling to accept the child. 
 
-- G.  The government provides training to NAPTIP, NIS, and 
police officials in trafficking matters.  Nigerian Embassies 
and Consulates are also sensitized to human trafficking 
through training conducted by NAPTIP.  The Nigerian Embassy 
in Italy aids TIP victims in country by connecting them to 
NGOs who can provide assistance. 
 
-- H.  The government provides assistance through the NAPTIP 
shelters and the victim assistance package.  The NAPTIP 
shelters provide medical support.  TIP victims choose a 
vocation and are provided with the necessary equipment and 
training.  In addition, some states provide assistance to TIP 
victims through their own programs.  In Edo State, there is 
training for TIP victims through the UNICEF center in Benin 
City.  TIP victims can receive training in hairdressing, 
sewing, computers, and catering.  Some TIP victims are 
eligible for microcredit, though in practice the number of 
victims receiving funding is small.  Some NGOs report 
microcredit is not effective with TIP victims because they 
have few skills. 
 
-- I.  UNICEF, IOM, ILO, ECOWAS, and the AU work with TIP 
victims.  IOM meets victims at the airport and refers them to 
NAPTIP.  IOM also supports the Lagos shelter.  UNICEF has 
provided funds for food and training equipment for the 
shelter.  UNICEF helped fund a training centre for youth, 
including trafficking victims, in Benin City. 
 
Prominent local NGOs include WOTCLEF, the Women's Consortium 
of Nigeria (WOCON), Idia Renaissance, the Royal Pearls 
Foundation, Women of Life Foundation (WOLF), Human 
Development Initiative, Women Development Foundation, and the 
Network for Justice and Democracy (NJD).  NAPTIP refers 
victims to some of these organizations for rehabilitation. 
WOTCLEF operates rehabilitation shelters in Abuja and 
 
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Abeokuta. 
 
NAPTIP works with international and local NGOs by including 
them in the anti-TIP network and attending anti-TIP events 
organized by the NGOs.  NAPTIP, which lacks adequate funding 
for rehabilitation, often relies on NGOs to fill these gaps. 
 
---------------------------------- 
31. (U) Anti-TIP Heroes in Nigeria 
---------------------------------- 
 
Carol Ndaguba, Executive Director of NAPTIP, has led the 
agency since its formation in 2003.  As the lead agency for 
trafficking matters, Ndaguba directs Nigeria's national and 
international efforts to combat TIP. 
 
Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, Executive Director of WOCON has become 
one of Nigeria's foremost experts on trafficking.  Olagbegi 
visited US anti-TIP efforts on an International Visitors (IV) 
grant and has worked with community groups and NAPTIP on 
trafficking.  Recently, Olagbegi went to Ogun State to 
sensitize farmers against using child labor trafficked from 
Benin to work in the fields. 
 
Nike Ogundaye-Davies, Director of the Nike Art Center, has 
worked with TIP victims from Italy upon their repatriation. 
The Nike Art Center taught victims skills in Nigerian crafts 
and arts.  Nike received a medal from the Italian government 
for her work with trafficking victims in Edo State. 
 
---------------------- 
32. (U) Best Practices 
---------------------- 
 
NAPTIP started in 2004 an initiative to unite various local 
groups and law enforcement into an anti-TIP network.  This 
network consists of members of the police, immigration, local 
government, nongovernmental organizations, traditional 
rulers, churches, and community leaders.  The military is not 
a part of the network.  This network has improved awareness 
of trafficking and encouraged cooperation across 
organizational boundaries. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
33. (U) Contact and Preparation Information 
------------------------------------------- 
 
Jeremy Chen, Political Officer, Lagos 
Telephone: 234-1-261-0050 ext. 268 or 234-803-457-5200 
Fax: 234-1-261-1863 
E-mail: chenjh2@state.gov 
 
Numbers of hours spent on preparation of the Nigeria TIP 
report. 
 
Chief of Mission: 1 hour 
Pol/Econ Chief in Lagos: 2 hours 
Political Deputy Chief in Abuja: 1 hour 
International Narcotics Liaison: 1 hour 
 
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USAID Officer: 1 hour 
Poloff: 50 hours 
 
BROWNE