Poverty responsible for high rate of trafficking – NIS

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has attributed the poverty level, lack of knowledge and unemployment as contributing factors to the menace of child trafficking, which it says many parents are forced to engage in.

NIS also noted that lack of domestication of Child Rights Act with institutional infrastructure and implementation of the law in Nigeria might jeopardise the fight against trafficking.

Assistant Comptroller General, Zone C, Bauchi of the NIS, Abdulrasaq Dangiri said conscious efforts should be made by government to enlighten the populace to appreciate the rights of the child.

While stating this at a programme organised by Africa Meditators for Peace and Girl Education Advocacy Initiative (AMPAG-CEAI) to mark the world international day of peace in Bauchi, yesterday, Abdulrasaq advocated for more poverty eradication programmes in the Nigeria.

“This, they (government) can do by providing basic infrastructure needs. This will create small scale businesses, which will in turn reduce poverty,” he said.

He further lamented that begging and hawking were other forms of exploitations, which he said are common in the Northern parts of the Country. 

“In Northern Nigeria, many families send their children known as Almajiri mostly from rural to urban centres to receive Koranic education from Islamic teachers. Some of these children receive lessons, but teachers often force them to beg on the streets,” he said.