Speaking at a public event in Abuja, Yilwatda said worsening economic conditions had pushed many Nigerians into desperate migration and exploitation.

By Titilope Adako

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, has blamed the growing menace of human trafficking in Nigeria on years of economic decline and the collapse of industries across the country.

Speaking at a public event in Abuja, Yilwatda said worsening economic conditions had pushed many Nigerians into desperate migration and exploitation.

He recalled his experience as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Chair of the African-European Migration and Development Team, calling for community-driven strategies to address the crisis.

Yilwatda expressed optimism that ongoing reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would revive the economy and create opportunities for young Nigerians, stressing that the fight against trafficking must go beyond government efforts to involve families, schools, and local communities.

“We can stop this cycle,” he said. “It reflects the pain of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to traffickers because of economic despair.”

He urged Nigerians to confront the problem collectively, describing human trafficking as both a social and moral challenge that undermines national development.

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed, described human trafficking as one of the world’s most dangerous transnational crimes, ranking alongside drug and arms trafficking.

He said the crime “has eroded our social fabric and robbed some of our people of their dignity and future,” adding that the NIA continues to provide intelligence and operational support to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The event was attended by lawmakers, diplomats, and human rights advocates.

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