The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have struck a game-changing partnership to combat the surging crisis of human trafficking and illegal migration in Nigeria.
The partnership was sealed at a high-level meeting at NAPTIP’s headquarters in Abuja, where leading minds in academia and anti-trafficking enforcement came together to strategize on tackling the Japa phenomenon—Nigeria’s growing youth exodus driven by economic hardship and insecurity.
The ISDEVCOM conference, themed “Japa: Communicating Migration and Africa’s Development,” is expected to attract top scholars, migration experts, policymakers, and human rights advocates from across Africa and beyond. With NAPTIP’s involvement, the event will not only be an academic exercise but a strategic action plan against illegal migration and human trafficking.
More light will be shed on the collaboration in the upcoming 6th International Conference on Communication and Development in Africa, set to take place on March 27 in Keffi, where NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta L. Adamu Bello, is expected to deliver a powerful keynote address.
Dr. George Ndukwu, President of ISDEVCOM Scholars Alumni Association, emphasized the urgency of the conference:
“This is not just another conference—it is a battle cry. Nigeria must wake up to the reality that migration, when mismanaged, becomes a national security crisis. With NAPTIP on board, we are moving from talk to action.”
Nigeria has seen an alarming spike in cases of human trafficking, forced migration, and illegal border crossings, with thousands of young Nigerians falling victim to dangerous migration routes, exploitation, and modern-day slavery. The Japa wave—a term that has come to define the desperate pursuit of a better life abroad—has exacerbated this crisis, making the need for intervention urgent.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Azubuike Erinugha, leader of the ISDEVCOM delegation, did not mince words as he underscored the devastating effects of Japa syndrome on the country:
“Nigeria is losing its brightest minds to desperate migration. If we fail to tackle this crisis head-on, we will wake up one day to a nation robbed of its future.”
He further praised NAPTIP for its relentless fight against human trafficking, stating that its involvement in the upcoming conference would amplify awareness and strengthen ties between academia and policy enforcement.
NAPTIP’s leadership at the meeting reaffirmed its commitment to crushing the networks of traffickers and smugglers preying on vulnerable Nigerians. Representing the agency, Barr. Hassan Tahir highlighted NAPTIP’s achievements in dismantling trafficking rings but admitted that broader collaborations were necessary to win the war.
“NAPTIP has made significant progress in tackling human trafficking, but we cannot do it alone. This conference is a crucial platform for driving new strategies and ensuring that victims’ voices are heard.”
The Director of Legal and Prosecution at NAPTIP, Barr. Ijeoma Amugo, took the meeting a step further, revealing that the agency and ISDEVCOM would work on developing new policies to protect trafficking victims while launching more aggressive public awareness campaigns.
Both ISDEVCOM and NAPTIP have agreed to cement their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will outline joint research, policy development, and nationwide public enlightenment campaigns.
As Nigeria grapples with a worsening migration crisis on the basis of the Japa syndrome, this partnership signals a turning point in the fight against human trafficking.
