According to the European Union, Nigeria is now seen globally as a source and destination for sex trafficking, forced labour, transit and trafficking in human organs. EU also said it would support Nigeria through its political dialogue and development cooperation to fight these vices. The statement was revealed by the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ketil Karlsen on Tuesday, in Lagos, shortly after the 64th chartered flight bringing back voluntary Nigerian returnees arrived the country.
The EU is working in all areas of migration in Nigeria, including migration management, labour migration, irregular migration, return and reintegration, mobility and international protection.
Mr Karlsen also stated that Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for women and children victims of sex trafficking and forced labour in the forms of prostitution, domestic servitude, begging and sometimes trafficking in human organs. The IOM has identified 749 victims of trafficking among the returnees, and more than 3,172 with vulnerabilities.
Also in the statement, Mr Karlsen said in April 2017, the European Union, through its Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), launched the Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Africa with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). According to him, the initiative, which is wholly funded by the EU, aims to improve migrant protection, voluntary return, and reintegration.
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