NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

What Is This Policy?

The National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (NAP 2022 to 2026) is Nigeria's second comprehensive anti-human trafficking action plan, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2022. Developed by NAPTIP with technical support from UNODC and the Government of Switzerland, it provides a structured, multi-stakeholder roadmap to prevent trafficking, protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and build durable partnerships across Nigeria's 36 states and at the international level.

Who Does It Target?

Victims of human trafficking, including women and girls in forced prostitution, children in domestic servitude, boys forced to beg, and internally displaced persons exploited as forced labourers Potential victims in high-risk communities: rural northern and southern youth, out-of-school children, returnee migrants, and residents in high-emigration zones like Edo, Delta, and Ogun states Law enforcement, immigration, judiciary, and social welfare personnel who identify, investigate, prosecute, and support trafficking victims Civil society organisations, schools, religious bodies, and community leaders involved in prevention, awareness, and victim support

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Protect and assist trafficking victims by expanding shelter capacity, psychosocial support, vocational training, and safe family reintegration services Prevent trafficking through mass public awareness campaigns, school outreach, community mobilisation, and economic empowerment for high-risk groups Prosecute traffickers more effectively by strengthening NAPTIP's investigative and prosecutorial capacity, targeting a conviction rate above 50% of prosecuted cases Build a national anti-trafficking coordination system with standardised data collection, a national report hub, and regular stakeholder consultations across all 36 states and FCT

Key Features

Five Thematic Areas: Protection and Assistance; Prevention; Research, Assessment, Data Management and M and E; Prosecution, Law Enforcement, and Access to Justice; Partnership and Coordination State Task Forces: NAPTIP operates task forces in 22 states, with plans to expand to all 36 states and FCT; each task force includes police, immigration, social welfare, and civil society representatives 13 Victim Shelters: NAPTIP operates 13 shelters across its 10 zonal commands; shelters provide six weeks of initial care, legal and medical services, vocational training, and family reunification support National Anti-Trafficking Hotline: A dedicated hotline receives tip-offs, victim reports, and public enquiries; calls are triaged to the nearest NAPTIP zonal command Digital Partnership: NAPTIP has signed MOUs with Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) and the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to monitor and report online child exploitation International Cooperation: NAPTIP collaborates with German, Italian, Spanish, and Indian authorities on cross-border trafficking cases; mutual legal assistance agreements with Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, and Niger in force

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; Phase II implementation (August 2023 to July 2025) focuses on operationalising the NAP's coordination and data systems with UNODC and Swiss Government support Convictions: NAPTIP recorded 80 convictions in 2022, the highest in a single year; 624 total convictions since the first conviction in 2006; first-ever conviction of a law enforcement officer for trafficking Victims Served: 2,743 victims received NAPTIP shelter services during the 2022 reporting period; government identified 935 trafficking victims in 2022 including 521 sex trafficking victims Coverage: NAPTIP commands in 32 states; Tier 2 Watch List status in US TIP Report (2022 to 2023); Nigeria targeting Tier 1 elevation through improved identification and conviction rates

How to Access

Victims: Contact NAPTIP on the national anti-trafficking hotline; walk in to any of the 10 NAPTIP zonal commands; access free shelter, medical, legal, and psychosocial services Informants: Report suspected trafficking activity to NAPTIP via the hotline or through NACTAL (Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour) partner organisations Organisations: Apply to become a NAPTIP-standard NGO shelter partner; NAPTIP currently certifies only two non-governmental shelters; standards available at naptip.gov.ng Contact: NAPTIP: naptip.gov.ng | NAPTIP Headquarters, 90 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja | Hotline: 0800 NAPTIP 1 (0800 627 8471)

Impact & Metrics

65% of Nigerian trafficking cases are internal (within Nigeria); 35% are cross-border; Edo State is the highest source state for international sex trafficking victims to Europe

Official Resources

Website: naptip.gov.ng Contact: NAPTIP Headquarters, 90 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja | Hotline: 0800 NAPTIP 1 (0800 627 8471) Policy Summary | Source: NAPTIP, UNODC, US State Department TIP Report 2023, IOM Nigeria, Switzerland FDFA | March 2026

Legal Framework

The National Action Plan on Human Trafficking operates under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 (TIPPEA), which established NAPTIP. It aligns with the Child Rights Act 2003, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, and Nigeria's obligations under the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol), the ILO Convention 29 on Forced Labour, and ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.