By Yisa Usman MSc, FCA, FCTI
In a world increasingly connected by digital networks and global travel, the tragedy of human trafficking continues to haunt vulnerable populations. For Nigeria, the recurring discovery of trafficked teenage girls and young men in foreign lands, particularly in West African countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso, has become a national embarrassment. These young citizens, lured with promises of better lives, are often forced into the sex trade or subjected to hard labour under inhumane conditions.
Recent revelations by a popular social media activist known as Verydarkblackman about trafficked youths in Burkina Faso have further exposed the depth of this crisis. Similarly, disturbing reports emerged about teenage Nigerian girls trafficked into Ghana for sexual exploitation, many of them reportedly under the age of 18. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deepening systemic rot that demands urgent national attention.
Nigeria remains one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in Africa. Whether it is for forced labour, domestic servitude, or commercial sex work, Nigerians, particularly women and children, are frequently trafficked across borders. Many are deceived with promises of jobs, education, or better living conditions, only to find themselves trapped in horrific conditions with no hope of return.
According to data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian victims are most commonly trafficked to countries like Ghana, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates. Other destinations include Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, and India. This development is enabled by poverty, unemployment, weak law enforcement, and the collapse of social and family support systems. In many cases, parents are either unaware of the risks or are themselves complicit, driven by desperation to permit their children to be taken abroad by traffickers.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), established in 2003, is the principal government agency mandated to fight human trafficking in Nigeria with roles that span prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. Commendably, the agency has conducted rescues, arrested traffickers, and provided shelters and counseling for victims. However, it faces significant constraints including underfunding, inadequate personnel, and challenges in cross-border cooperation. Its operations need to be strengthened with modern surveillance tools, inter-agency collaboration, and increased budgetary support to effectively tackle the expanding networks of traffickers.
In addition to the NAPTIP, several other key agencies play vital roles in combating human trafficking in Nigeria. The agencies include the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), and the Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON). While NAPTIP serves as the lead federal agency coordinating national efforts against trafficking, the NPF contributes through law enforcement and criminal investigations. The NIS is primarily responsible for monitoring and controlling cross-border movements to prevent trafficking, while NACTAL, a coalition of civil society organizations, supports community-based prevention and victim assistance. WOCON focuses on advocacy, legal aid, and psychosocial support, particularly for women and girls affected by trafficking. Together, these institutions form a critical network in Nigeria’s anti-trafficking framework.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) also plays a critical role in safeguarding Nigerian citizens abroad. NiDCOM has intervened in several cases of trafficking, helping to repatriate victims and raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration. The Commission’s role at facilitating diplomatic engagements and diaspora partnerships that provide safer migration alternatives for young Nigerians remains invaluable.
At the root of the trafficking crisis is a breakdown of family values. In several communities, the desperation to escape poverty has led to moral compromises where families turn a blind eye to the trafficking of their own children. The erosion of traditional values, combined with the glorification of wealth at all costs, has created a dangerous mindset that sees migration as a viable escape despite the attendant risk. The Ministry of Women Affairs must take a more active role in reversing this narrative. It should champion public enlightenment campaigns that promote parenting education, economic empowerment of women, and the rebuilding of community trust. Families must be empowered to serve as the first line of defense against trafficking through awareness, vigilance, and moral guidance.
Another major driver of trafficking is the lack of access to quality education. Nigeria’s educational system is plagued by poor infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, low teacher morale, and a curriculum that often fails to equip students with practical skills. Many young people drop out early or never enroll at all, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. To counter this, the government must review its investment in education at all levels with particular attention to vocational and technical studies through institutions such as polytechnics and monotechnics. The institutions should be retooled to provide relevant, industry-aligned training that prepares would-be victims for gainful employment and entrepreneurship.
For those unable to access formal education, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) presents a viable alternative. Through targeted skill acquisition programs, the NDE can train thousands of young Nigerians in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, hairdressing, catering, welding, ICT, and agriculture. This not only provides them with a source of income but also restores dignity and self-worth. The government must ensure that NDE is supported to reach communities where youth unemployment is most acute.
Leadership plays a crucial role in addressing the menace of human trafficking. For too long, Nigerian leaders have paid lip service to youth development. Without visionary governance that puts the youth at the center of national planning, the cycle of poverty and trafficking will persist. The country needs leaders who understand that human capital is the most important resource Nigeria possesses. These leaders must invest in youth mentorship, entrepreneurship, mental health support, and cultural reorientation. They must ensure that development plans are inclusive and responsive to the needs of young people, especially those in vulnerable communities.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) as a critical player in the fight against trafficking tasked with monitoring and controlling cross-border movements, must be better equipped to identify and block trafficking attempts. With corruption, lack of training, and poor infrastructure which makes it easy for traffickers to bribe their way through borders, reforms are needed to ensure transparency, improve surveillance, and capacity building. The Ministry of Interior, which oversees the NIS, must drive this reform agenda with urgency and commitment.
For the fight against trafficking to succeed, accountability is essential. Traffickers and their collaborators must be prosecuted and punished as deterrence. Unfortunately, the judicial process in Nigeria is slow and sometimes compromised. Many traffickers walk free due to poor investigations, lack of evidence, or corruption. The government must establish special courts to handle trafficking cases with speed and efficiency. There should be legal protections for whistleblowers and support systems for victims who are willing to testify. And provisions for joint investigations, extradition, and asset recovery must be made in bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on combatting the menace.
The frequency of trafficking cases involving Nigerian youths is not just a social issue. It is a moral and national emergency that signify a systemic failure in our governance, education, economic planning, and cultural values. Every Nigerian, including government officials, civil society actors, religious leaders, parents, teachers, and the media, must see this as a call to action. We cannot continue to look the other way while our youth are sold into modern-day slavery. We must commit ourselves to rebuilding a society that values human life, dignity, and the promise of every child.
To address this scourge, a multifaceted approach is required. NAPTIP should be adequately funded and equipped with modern tools to track and dismantle trafficking rings. Its personnel should be trained and deployed in high-risk areas with clear mandates. NiDCOM must be empowered to work more proactively with Nigerian embassies abroad to detect, assist, and repatriate victims. It should also play a more visible role in creating legal migration pathways for skilled youths. The Ministry of Women Affairs should intensify campaigns to strengthen family values and provide economic support to vulnerable households. The government must expand and modernize vocational education to ensure that every youth has access to skills and tools for a decent life. The NDE’s programs should be scaled up and made accessible to rural and peri-urban communities. The Immigration Service should be reformed to close loopholes exploited by traffickers, with increased accountability and deployment of modern surveillance tools.
Traffickers should be prosecuted swiftly, and their assets seized and used to support victim rehabilitation programs. This legal action should be taken in cooperation with countries where Nigerian victims are found. There must be deliberate partnerships with community-based organizations and faith groups that are already working to protect vulnerable populations. And finally, the political leadership must be held accountable for youth development. Only a government that sees its youth as assets, not liabilities, can change the current trajectory.
The trafficking of Nigerian youths is not just about lost lives, it is about a lost future. It is a betrayal of the social contract between a nation and its young people. We must rise as one people, united by conscience and a sense of duty, to say no more. No more to poverty that kills dreams. No more to silence that enables evil. No more to a future built on broken wings.
Yisa Usman is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is a doctoral candidate of Corporate Governance and writes from Abuja. Email: topusman@gmail.com; 08037050981.
