Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reinforced their partnership to dismantle human trafficking networks, following a high-level meeting in Abuja to review progress under the Building an Environment Free of Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria (TIPVAP NG) project.
The Second Project Steering Committee Meeting was organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), with support from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Asylum and Migration.
The meeting was attended by a Dutch delegation led by Deputy Director-General at the Ministry of Asylum and Migration, Victor Cramer; ICMPD Nigeria Head of Office, Isabelle Wolfsgruber; Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello; focal persons from relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs); and other stakeholders.
Central to the discussions was the Justice and Security Migration Partnership Programme, described by officials as a key mechanism for strengthening Nigeria’s legal and institutional response to trafficking and related violence.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, said the collaboration has begun to yield measurable results in investigations, prosecutions and victim support services across selected states, including Benue, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory.
She explained that the initiative goes beyond enforcement by improving operational procedures, enhancing inter-agency coordination and deepening public awareness to prevent trafficking at its source.
According to Bello, the Project Steering Committee serves as the highest oversight body for the programme, ensuring accountability, strategic alignment and compliance with national and international standards.
She stressed that sustained international cooperation is critical, particularly as trafficking networks continue to operate across borders and adapt to evolving enforcement measures. She called for renewed commitment to a victim-centred, rights-based approach that prioritises the dignity and protection of survivors.
Leader of the Dutch delegation, Victor Cramer, described Nigeria as a vital partner in addressing irregular migration and trafficking flows between West Africa and Europe.
He cited data indicating that Nigerian nationals remain significantly represented among trafficking victims identified in the Netherlands, particularly in cases involving sexual exploitation and forced criminality. He said this underscores the importance of coordinated prevention, protection and prosecution strategies.
Cramer commended Nigerian authorities for their efforts and emphasised the need for strengthened intelligence-sharing and capacity building to curb dangerous migration routes exploited by criminal syndicates.
ICMPD’s Nigeria Head of Office, Isabelle Wolfsgruber, said the TIPVAP NG project is aimed at improving coordination between federal and state institutions under NAPTIP’s leadership. She highlighted the role of awareness campaigns in educating communities about trafficking risks and deceptive recruitment schemes.
Wolfsgruber added that the programme focuses on measurable outcomes to ensure that institutional reforms translate into tangible protection for vulnerable individuals.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge by Nigeria, the Netherlands and ICMPD to deepen collaboration, strengthen institutional capacity and sustain a coordinated national response against human trafficking and violence.
Officials from both countries agreed that combating trafficking remains both a security imperative and a shared humanitarian responsibility, requiring sustained partnership and people-focused solutions.
Michael Olugbode
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