Dame Julie Okah – Donli
The attention of the Management of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has been drawn to the regurgitation of fabricated and concocted reports as well as allegations targeted at the corporate image of the Agency and other Management Staff.
Of great concern to the Agency is the contents of such petitions authored by some faceless individuals with direct attack on the person of the Director General, Dame Julie Okah – Donli.
Such sponsored reports which are padded with unverified insinuations and personal heresies was recently published by an online medium with no recourse to the ethics of balanced reporting in line with global best practices in journalism.
The Agency, ordinarily would have ignored such baseless allegations, but because of the respect we have for our local and international partners, we feel it is necessary to put the record straight.
On the allegation of award of contracts for the renovation of the Abuja and Benin Shelters of the Agency, it should be stated that the contract for the upgrade of Agency’s Shelters for victims of Trafficking in Persons was actually for three locations namely FCT – Abuja, Lagos and Benin shelters and was awarded under the 2018 Appropriation Act. The total sum of money involved was N49, 903, 309. 26
A visit to the above locations revealed that the jobs were actually carried out in line with the global standard thereby transforming the facilities to modern structures.
Sources close to the Agency hinted that the recent onslaught against the Management of the Agency may not be unconnected with the series of disciplinary measures and recent routine transfers carried out to enhance greater productivity by the Director General.
Reports indicate that a handful of Officers had resisted the posting and threatened to get back at the system.
The procedures for the award of these contracts followed due process, and the final job completion certificates were duly signed by the officers in charge of those shelters. There was nothing like splitting any contract because they were actually three separate contracts.
Knowing fully that the amount approved for the three projects was grossly inadequate, the Director General in her determination to give the facilities a facelift, approached the authorities of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) to compliment the efforts of the Agency by bringing it up to international standard through their Corporate Social Responsibility. It should be noted that FIRS did not work at the Benin and Lagos shelters.
Concerning the allegation of N100m appropriated for workshops under the 2017 Budget out of which only N 59, 990, 860.87 was released , the truth is that it was a capital project, which was awarded on the Framework for the Safe Return/Repatriation and Reintegration of Victims of Human Trafficking /Child Labour following due process to a consultant.
The first workshop was held in Calabar, and more than 70 persons from all relevant government and non-governmental Agencies, as well as the UN system and some foreign embassies were at the workshop. The international organisations only catered for their representatives, and they were just eight persons.
NAPTIP, through the consultant, conducted a second technical workshop in Keffi, Nassarawa State, to fine tune the document. This workshop was attended by 25 persons, and lasted 4 days.
The Consultant duly reported on his work, and satisfied the laid down regulations.
Money was never paid into the account of the Director Research & Programme Development, so he had no reason to retire any money or to forge tickets and hotel bills, as maliciously alleged.
It is on record that the incumbent Director General has worked assiduously to make NAPTIP a foremost counter trafficking Agency across the World and she is well respected.
Some of her modest feats include :
NAPTIP’s Achievements and Milestones
Increase in the visibility of the Agency and launching it out globally as a foremost counter trafficking Agency.
Increase in the partnership base of the Agency thereby bring in more stakeholders.
Creation of Reforms Unit
Creation of Rapid Response Unit
Unveiling and promotion of the NAPTIP Brand.
Renovation of the Headquarters building.
Increased surveillance and proactive operational activities.
Conviction of no fewer than 426 persons. (Many cases still pending in Courts and investigation of many still on-going)
Over 16000 victims passed through the NAPTIP Shelters. Given Psychosocial support, provided skills, education, medical supports, empowerment and reintegrated to their families and society;
Have many victims who have graduated from Tertiary institutions under the sponsorship of NAPTIP
Recently concluded work with the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) on the infusion of trafficking in persons issues into the curricula of Primary and Secondary Schools in Nigeria.
Evacuation of thousands of stranded victims of human trafficking and irregular migration from Libya.
Rescue of stranded Nigeria girl from Saudi Arabia, Cairo, Omar and Lebanon
Group empowerment of victims of human trafficking rescued and trained by NAPTIP. This was done in October, 2018.
Hosting of the First INTERPOL Global Conference on Human Trafficker and Migrant Smuggling in African. The 6th Edition of the Conference was attended by over 100 Countries.
Employment of three survivors of human trafficking as Staff of the Agency, They were rescued and trained in various Universities in Nigeria, One of them had 2.1 grade. They had since resumed work in the Agency.
Commencement of grassroots sensitization programme in all villages across the country on the dangers of human trafficking.
Advocacy to State Governors and Traditional Rulers across the Country.
Joint operation with British Police at the Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Setting up of State Task Forces on Human Trafficking in Four States of the Federation and working on other States.
Setting up of the Nigeria Sexual Offenders Register with the support of Rule of Law and Anti – Corruption (Rolac) to name and shame sexual offenders.
Engagement with Actors in the Aviation sector and the establishment of anti – human trafficking awareness signage at strategic points at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and others.
Presentation at the plenary of the ECOWAS Parliament on the need for collective regional efforts to curb the human trafficking menace.
Sensitization of Commercial operators, Law Enforcement Agencies and members of Border Communities in Republic of Benin and Togo Borders.
Creation of the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Unit to tackle the increased cases of rape and domestic violence in the country.
Knowing fully well that Human Trafficking and Sexual and Gender Based Violence, just like other society ills, are two hydra- headed monsters with the tendency of fighting back, the latest attack on the Agency did not come to us as a surprise. This is against the backdrop of the increased number of high profiled human trafficking and Sexual offences related cases being handled by the Agency at the moment in addition to the publication of the contents of the Sexual Offender Register.
However, the Agency shall continue to welcome the support of its diverse stakeholders and partners to make Nigeria a human trafficking and violence free nation.
While thanking our revered media partners who have continued to support the Agency even in the past years, NAPTIP advises peddlers of such ungodly reports to be mindful of the position of the Law most especially when allowed to be used as agents of aggrieved traffickers and rapists.
Stella Nezan
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
