Minister: Nigeria, major hub for human trafficking in Africa

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has described Nigeria as one of the main source, transit, and destination countries for human trafficking in Africa.

 

She said this on Wednesday at the 2025 annual academic summit organised by the University of Abuja’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

 

Sulaiman-Ibrahim identified poverty, economic hardship, lack of education, cultural and gender norms, and weak law enforcement as key drivers of illegal migration and human trafficking in Nigeria.

 

Citing the 2023 Global Slavery Index, she noted that Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of trafficked persons, with an estimated 1.4 million Nigerians trapped in modern slavery, the majority being women and girls.

 

“Over 60 per cent of Nigerians attempting to migrate irregularly are women and girls, many of whom are trafficked for forced labour or sexual exploitation. Reports indicate that over 50,000 Nigerian women are trapped in forced prostitution across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain.

 

“The International Organisation for Migration estimates that more than 80 per cent of Nigerian women who arrive in Europe through irregular routes are potential trafficking victims.

 

“The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that Nigeria accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all human trafficking cases in West Africa,” she stated.

 

Describing human trafficking as a threat to the nation’s future, the minister emphasised the urgent need for action.

 

“The fight against illegal migration and girl-child trafficking is a fight for the soul of our nation. If we fail to act decisively, we risk losing an entire generation of young women to exploitation, violence, and despair,” she warned.

 

To combat trafficking, she stressed the importance of improving access to education, calling it the most powerful tool to equip young girls with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices about their futures.

 

She urged universities and higher institutions to integrate human trafficking awareness and migration literacy into their curricula to create a more informed and resilient society.

 

 

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