TheCable

The Canadian government has supported the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with two four-wheel drive vehicles to strengthen the fight against human trafficking.

Jamie Christoff, Canadian ambassador to Nigeria, presented the vehicles to Fatima Waziri-Azi, the director-general of NAPTIP, in Abuja on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the donation was made under the auspices of the capacity-building programme funded by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Christoff said the move was important to assist workers of the agency with mobility to improve human trafficking investigations.

“We have to celebrate our joint efforts that are bringing change in raising awareness on issues of human trafficking,” he said.

“I celebrate the director-general and her team for the efforts deployed in tackling the issue that is really a scourge in any society and that is human trafficking.

“What I am very happy to do today before you is to present the director-general with delivery notices and instructions for two new vehicles that will help deploy NAPTIP staff in investigating human trafficking.”

On her part, Waziri-Azi commended the Canadian government for the donation and promised to make good use of the vehicles.

“Thank you for all the support we have got from the Canadian embassy, not just these, but even from past years,” she said.

“This collaboration with NAPTIP started in 2020 during COVID-19.

“All the support we have got so far has been very impactful; it has helped in our work. These are projects that are quantifiable and you can actually see and measure their impact.

“We can both agree on the enormity of challenges we face as a country when it has to do with human trafficking and we remain grateful for the support by the Canadian government.

“We hope to keep enhancing our relationship, we are glad to receive these two-brand-new vehicles, which have made our office environment look bigger.”