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RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
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RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000293 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, DRL, PRM, AF/W, INR/AA 
ENERGY FOR CAROLYN GAY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR LAGON'S VISIT TO ABUJA 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: During a January 22 visit to Abuja, 
Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking and Director of the 
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, Mark Lagon, 
emphasized the importance of increased prosecutions of 
traffickers, the protection of victims, and the prevention of 
human trafficking.  Ambassador Lagon met with officials from 
the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in 
Persons (NAPTIP), the Minister of Labor, the Chief Justice of 
Nigeria, representatives from the Ministry of Women's 
Affairs, the American Bar Association Africa Initiative 
(ABA-Africa), and representatives of international 
non-governmental organizations working on trafficking issues 
in Nigeria.  Discussions highlighted the need for increased 
capacity in the judiciary, technical assistance for 
investigators and prosecutors, stronger punishment for 
perpetrators, and the political will to encourage the GON to 
allocate more resources for the protection and rehabilitation 
of victims of trafficking.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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NAPTIP 
------ 
¶2. (U) During a roundtable discussion with key members of 
NAPTIP -- including Executive Secretary Carol Ndaguba; 
Director of Investigations Muhammad Babandede; Director of 
Prosecutions Shada Haruna; and Director of Public 
Enlightenment Olufunmiladun Aiyegbusi -- Ambassador Lagon 
praised the GON as a role model for establishing NAPTIP, 
making Nigeria the only African country with an agency 
dedicated to combating trafficking in persons.  Ambassador 
Lagon then inquired about the challenges NAPTIP faces in 
prosecuting and convicting alleged traffickers.  Babandede 
said that lack of funding for investigators to gather 
evidence creates an obstacle for prosecutors.  Babandede 
explained how exploitation must be clearly evident to prove 
someone is guilty of trafficking because Nigerian judges are 
reluctant to convict unless a victim had already reached the 
destination and was forced into prostitution or domestic 
slavery.  Adding to the difficulty is the requirement for 
victims to testify in person, which often does not occur due 
to fear of retribution.  Cultural traditions in Nigeria also 
contribute to the problem.   Most parents are willing to send 
their children off in search of a better life and do not 
realize the conditions in which their children will end up. 
 
¶3. (U) Societal attitude is still a major obstacle in the 
fight against human trafficking according to Ndaguba.  The 
judiciary and other law enforcement agencies do not always 
understand that human trafficking is a real problem.  She 
said that NAPTIP is sometimes referred to as the agency that 
"pesters prostitutes."  Haruna explained that although NAPTIP 
works in coordination with the Nigerian Immigration Service 
(NIS) and Nigerian Police Force (NPF), there is some 
resentment toward NAPTIP for taking work and credit away from 
other law enforcement agencies when arrests or rescues 
happen.   Babandede acknowledged that NAPTIP needs to give 
more credit to NIS and NPF for the work they do.  Ambassador 
Lagon inquired about what the USG could do to build political 
will within the GON to take a tougher stance on trafficking 
and provide additional resources for the protection and 
rehabilitation of victims.  Ndaguba suggested more advocacy 
from the USG and messages delivered to President Yar'Adua and 
members of the National Assembly.  (Note: Ndaguba mentioned 
U.S. Representative Chris Smith's (D-NJ) visit and subsequent 
letter to the former administration requesting the dedication 
of more resources to anti-trafficking efforts.  End Note.) 
 
----------------- 
MINISTRY OF LABOR 
----------------- 
¶4. (U) Minister of Labor, Dr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, took his 
meeting with Ambassador Lagon as an opportunity to express 
his concerns about the ill treatment of Nigerian migrants by 
foreign governments.  The Minister said that people should 
not be treated like criminals for seeking a better life. 
Ambassador Lagon agreed but added that people who exploit 
others with promises of a better life and then force them 
into servitude or prostitution need to be punished.  Noting 
that poverty and illiteracy are key factors, Lawal 
acknowledged child labor as a serious issue in Nigeria, but 
said that in many cases parents willingly send their children 
away with strangers thinking they will be provided education 
 
ABUJA 00000293  002 OF 003 
 
 
and jobs.  As families grow and parents are unable to feed 
their children, they believe they are doing the right thing 
by sending the children away to work or go to school.  Lawal 
emphasized the need to create more awareness among families, 
especially in the rural areas, and to educate them on the 
realities of trafficking.  The Minister also said that more 
resources, an increase in personnel, and additional training 
were needed for the Ministry to monitor the entire country 
adequately. 
 
--------------------------- 
MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS 
--------------------------- 
¶5. (U) Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women's 
Affairs, Y.N. Giwa told Ambassador Lagon that the Ministry 
has the mandate to coordinate all activity concerning women 
and children and that the priorities in combating trafficking 
are sensitization and advocacy, especially in local 
government areas.  Director of Women's Affairs, Maimuna Nasir 
Ajanah, reinforced the fact that lack of education (for girls 
in particular) and poverty are the leading causes of 
trafficking in Nigeria.  In response to Ambassador Lagon's 
query about the steps needed to eliminate trafficking, Deputy 
Director of Child Development for the Ministry, Macjohn 
Nwaobiala, stated that the National Assembly must begin to 
appreciate the magnitude of the problem in order to increase 
available resources.  Nwaobiala further explained that the 
judiciary, in addition to becoming more conversant on the 
laws relating to child labor and trafficking, must deliver 
harsher sentencing in order to deter perpetrators and crack 
down on recruiters. 
 
¶6. (U) Ambassador Lagon asked about the Ministry's efforts in 
regards to combating trafficking.  According to Giwa, the 
Ministry works closely with NAPTIP, labor organizations, 
local faith based groups, and NGOs such as Women Trafficking 
and Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) on 
rehabilitation programs and shelters.  Giwa said the Ministry 
also coordinates regional efforts to establish community 
committees geared towards the empowerment of young people and 
organizes a children's newsletter to educate young people 
about the perils of trafficking.  When asked by Ambassador 
Lagon what the USG could do to help, Giwa suggested capacity 
building in the judiciary, technical assistance for law 
enforcement, and stronger advocacy on behalf of their efforts 
to convince the government and legislature to dedicate more 
resources to anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
------------ 
ABA - AFRICA 
------------ 
¶7. (U) Reed Slack, Chief of Party for ABA-Africa, shared with 
Ambassador Lagon his views on the biggest challenges Nigeria 
faces in dealing with trafficking.  Slack said that 
trafficking is both a cultural and economic issue.  Due to 
the endemic poverty, many young people feel they have no 
other alternatives to migrating and are easily deceived into 
believing they will be better off wherever they go.  Slack 
also explained that it is culturally acceptable for children 
to be sent away to live with extended family members in 
different cities or countries. Unfortunately, these same 
family members often end up selling the young children or 
forcing them into prostitution, domestic servitude, or street 
hawking. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Ambassador Lagon inquired about the capacity and 
capability of the different agencies working on trafficking 
issues. According to Slack, there needs to be more 
coordination amongst government ministries, law enforcement 
agencies, NGO's, and the international community in order to 
fight trafficking adequately.  He also confirmed the need for 
capacity building within the judiciary and technical 
assistance for law enforcement agencies.  Slack further 
stressed the need for a country-wide survey to collect real 
data that reflect the gravity and specifics of the 
trafficking problem in Nigeria.  Slack also described the 
database project ABA is implementing for USAID which will 
provide a single source of information for all agencies and 
parties involved in anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
ABUJA 00000293  003 OF 003 
 
 
--------------------------- 
¶9. (U) Representatives from the International Organization 
for Migration (IOM), the International Committee of the Red 
Cross (ICRC), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and 
the ECOWAS TIP Division joined Ambassadors Sanders and Lagon 
for a working lunch to discuss ideas for advancing the fight 
against human trafficking.  Both representatives from the ILO 
and ECOWAS highlighted the need for a national action plan 
formulated by the federal government.  All were in agreement 
that a strong and specific directive from the President would 
motivate relative agencies, the judiciary, and the 
legislature to begin actively working on anti-trafficking 
issues in a cohesive manner.  Ambassador Sanders suggested 
that the new administration may not realize the need for a 
national action plan and that all parties involved should 
make the effort to reintroduce the issue with the federal 
government.  Ambassador Sanders also said she would discuss 
trafficking in persons with the First Lady of Nigeria in a 
future meeting, as the First Lady is creating an NGO that 
deals with women's issues, healthcare, and education. 
 
------------------------ 
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA 
------------------------ 
¶10. (U) In a joint meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, 
Idris Kutigi, and representatives from the National Judicial 
Institute (NJI), Ambassador Lagon pressed for more 
convictions of perpetrators of trafficking, harsher 
sentencing, and stricter enforcement of punishment. 
Administrator of NJI, Mr. T.A. Oyeyipo, told the Chief 
Justice that judges need to better understand the concept of 
trafficking and how it differs from smuggling.  Members of 
NJI also said that reform is needed in the way victims and 
evidence are handled.  Due to the difficulty in getting 
victims to testify in person, NJI suggested video 
conferencing or taped statements be admitted into evidence. 
 
¶11. (U) Ambassador Lagon has cleared this cable. 
SANDERS