The Federal Government has unveiled a renewed national strategy to combat human trafficking and curb irregular migration, warning that worsening economic hardship and the increasing use of digital platforms by criminal networks are exposing more Nigerians—particularly women and young people—to exploitation across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The renewed commitment was announced on Tuesday during the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Protection, Reintegration and Assistance to Migrants and Communities (COMPASS) Programme, where government officials and international partners disclosed that more than 1,000 stranded Nigerians had voluntarily returned from countries including Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Mali, Egypt, India and the United Arab Emirates.
The stakeholders also revealed that over 900 vulnerable returnees had received psychosocial support, healthcare services and livelihood assistance to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Participants at the event warned that human trafficking syndicates have become increasingly sophisticated, exploiting technology, poverty and unemployment to lure desperate Nigerians into dangerous migration routes that often lead to forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, stressed that migration itself should not be viewed as the problem, but rather the absence of safe, orderly and legal migration pathways.
“Migration is not the problem. The challenge is ensuring that migration is safe, orderly and regular, while protecting the dignity of every migrant,” she said.
Dimanche noted that the COMPASS Programme had significantly strengthened Nigeria’s migration governance framework by improving policies, enhancing institutional coordination and placing migrant protection at the centre of migration management.
She highlighted the programme’s impact through the story of “Joy,” a Nigerian woman who was trafficked abroad and subjected to severe exploitation before returning home traumatised. Through IOM’s psychosocial support and reintegration programme, Joy rebuilt her life, established a successful fashion business and now employs several young women.
“Joy is no longer defined by what happened to her. She is defined by what she has become,” Dimanche said, describing her transformation as evidence that effective reintegration can restore dignity and economic independence to survivors of trafficking.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting returning migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
He said the government’s “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction” framework under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to integrate humanitarian interventions with long-term poverty reduction strategies.
“Migration, when properly managed, presents opportunities for national development. We will continue to strengthen institutions, expand livelihood opportunities and ensure that returning migrants are empowered to rebuild their lives with dignity,” the minister said.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Director and Special Adviser (Administration), Mrs. Erimfolami Ola, said women and children continue to bear the greatest burden of irregular migration and human trafficking.
She disclosed that the ministry, working with partners under the COMPASS Programme, had facilitated the voluntary return of over 1,000 stranded Nigerians while strengthening institutional responses to trafficking and forced displacement.
She added that interventions in Edo State have demonstrated that reducing poverty and unemployment significantly addresses the root causes of irregular migration.
Representing the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the Head of Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience, Adedoyin Oyekan, said expanding opportunities for young Nigerians remains one of the most effective strategies for discouraging dangerous migration.
He pledged that the ministry would deepen collaboration with IOM and development partners to expand entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, innovation and employment programmes for Nigerian youths.
Also speaking, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Bengt van Loosdrecht, announced plans to introduce a football-based youth empowerment initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with coaching, leadership and life skills while educating communities on the dangers of irregular migration.
He said participants would serve as community ambassadors promoting safe and legal migration.
“Migration is fundamentally a human issue. Through COMPASS, we are investing not only in stronger institutions but also in protecting people, supporting survivors and preventing others from falling into the hands of traffickers,” the ambassador said.
Van Loosdrecht explained that the Netherlands established the COMPASS Programme to consolidate migration support within a coordinated framework focused on survivor care, mental health services, institutional strengthening and protection for vulnerable migrants.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, described the COMPASS Programme as one of Nigeria’s most strategic partnerships in the fight against human trafficking.
According to her, the initiative has strengthened NAPTIP’s capacity to investigate and prosecute trafficking offences through specialised training for investigators and prosecutors, while improving care and protection for victims.
Warning that trafficking syndicates continue to evolve, Bello said criminal networks are increasingly exploiting technology, economic hardship and the aspirations of vulnerable young Nigerians.
“Traffickers are adapting to technology, exploiting economic hardship and taking advantage of the aspirations of vulnerable young Nigerians. We must therefore strengthen partnerships among government, international organisations, civil society and communities to stay ahead of these criminal networks,” she said.
The renewed commitment comes amid growing concerns over the thousands of Nigerians who have, in recent years, undertaken perilous journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of better economic opportunities. Many have died during the journeys, while others have been rescued from detention centres, trafficking networks and exploitative labour conditions abroad.
Stakeholders unanimously agreed that while stronger law enforcement remains vital in combating trafficking, addressing poverty, unemployment and social vulnerability is essential to tackling the root causes of irregular migration and sustaining Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking.
