Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Obaseki okays Edo State trafficking prohibition law

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
24 May 2018   |   3:58 am
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday signed the Edo State Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law 2018.A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie disclosed this yesterday.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday signed the Edo State Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law 2018.A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie disclosed this yesterday.The signing was done at an event with the theme: “Technical Roundtable on Managing Migration through Development Transformation Programme in Edo State.”

The Ambassador of European Union to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen and the Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration, Enira Krdzalic attended the event.
   
Others were the Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Torben Getterman, representative of the Nigeria Immigration Service, World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, representatives of The Netherlands and members of the Edo State Executive Council.

   
The statement quoted Obaseki as saying: “The law provides an effective and comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of human trafficking and related offences in Edo State.”
   
According to Obaseki: “The law will protect victims of human trafficking, promote and facilitate local, national and international cooperation in the fight against the illicit activity.”He added that with the law, which also established the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, the stage is set for an onslaught against perpetrators of human trafficking in the state.
   
He disclosed that the state has secured the support of the international community in the fight against human trafficking.He urged parents, guardians, trade and professional groups, the clergy and other stakeholders to join hands with his administration, as the law takes effect to complement existing Federal Government laws.He disclosed that the state government currently has a robust plan for the rehabilitation of returnees from Libya and elsewhere.

He said their returns were facilitated by the Federal Government, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union.Under the programme, a monthly stipend of N20, 000 is paid to each of the returnees, including an empowerment package with training component, after which they are given starter packs.
 
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly yesterday summoned the Commissioner representing Edo State in the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Saturday Uwuelekhue, over abandoned road projects in the state. 
   
The majority leader, Roland Asoro, moved the motion under matters of urgent public importance, and was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror.They urged the rehabilitation of the Benin-Abraka road, which leads to some Orhionmwon communities in the state.The Speaker, kabiru Adjoto asked the commissioner to appear before the house on May 28 with a list of all ongoing projects in the state. 

   

In this article

0 Comments