2.2. Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)

2.2. Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)

2.2.1. Legal framework and prevalence

Nigeria ratified the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in 2001.103 The country also ratified several UN conventions on elimination of forced labour, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No.29) and the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No.105).104 In 2003, Nigeria enacted its first anti-trafficking legislation with the passage of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, which was later amended in 2015. The Act also established the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to enforce the law and coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking and related offences.105 The current legislation covers all forms of trafficking indicated in the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol.106

Trafficking in human beings remains a persistent and serious humanitarian issue in Nigeria.107 The country represents a major source, transit point, and destination for trafficked individuals.108 Comprehensive data on THB in Nigeria relevant for the reference period of this report was not available among all sources consulted.109 According to the latest available data from the 2023 Global Slavery Index,110 an estimated 1.6 million people were living in modern slavery in Nigeria on any given day in 2021. This corresponds to a prevalence rate of 7.8 per 1 000 people. Within Africa, Nigeria ranks 5^th out of 51 countries, and 38^th out of 160 countries globally in terms of prevalence. Such an estimate does not account for children recruited into armed conflict by non-state armed groups such as Boko Haram.111 In 2023, about 1.4 million Nigerians were subjected to forced labour or sexual exploitation, with many trafficked domestically or abroad, especially to Italy and Libya.112