Stakeholders in Lagos on Friday mapped out a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tackle the menace of trafficking and forced migration.
The Stakeholders, at a two-day workshop organised by CLEEN Foundation and the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) said there was need to map out responsibilities for active partners.
The workshop themed: “Development of SOP for Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration in Lagos State” had representatives of various security agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in attendance.
Blessing Abiri, the Program Advisor, CLEEN Foundation while giving her opening at the workshop said the SOP was necessary for the handling of forced migration in the state.
Abiri said CLEEN Foundation had worked with NAPTIP and the Taskforce Committee and realised that many people are doing a lot to end trafficking but there is still a disconnection.
“This disconnection is between the state actors stakeholders and other partners but NAPTIP is doing a lot to bridge this gap.
“This is why we need this SOP to assist the Taskforce Committee and also map out responsibilities so that we will know what everyone is doing to check the menace of trafficking and forced migration.
“The SOP will streamline and harmonize every stakeholders’ responsibility. It will also help in data collation and we are here to kickstart the process.” She said.
The NAPTIP Lagos Commander, Mr Ganiyu Agaran also said SOP is important especially for people dealing with gender, children and the vulnerables.
“There is need to synchronize what we do in tackling the menace of trafficking. Right now there is no coordination.
“There is need for coordination, we should know what everyone is doing. We should all come together so that we will know where to focus and when, as we all tackle the same menace.
“Whatever we have mapped out here will become a national policy. This may also go beyond Lagos State as NAPTIP is having its Taskforce across the country so that everyone can easily key into what we are doing.
“We all need to know and identify how to come in. We need to identify the gaps in tackling trafficking and forced migration and how it can be bridged.” he said.
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