International Human Trafficking: Critical Appraisal of Strength and Weaknesses of Nigeria’s Legal Frameworks

Nigeria has been facing the immense challenge of international trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and forced labor into countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Being an international criminal activity driven by high profits, Nigeria's adoption of a regulatory policy is expressed in the series of legal provisions to deal with the army of traffickers. In desperation, within a space of 12 years, Nigeria has churned out two legal frameworks (one now repealed) owing to the enormity of the inhuman effects of the modern slave trade to her citizenry locally and internationally. This paper has attempted a critical appraisal of the legal frameworks, especially the new law - the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition, Enforcement and Administration) Act 2015 - to expose strengths, contradictions and weaknesses. It has also highlighted the operational reality that unless the pervasive corruption amongst personnel of government agencies and security outfits aiding traffickers in illegal migration of victims is tackled, and a positive synergy developed between Nigeria's Immigration Service and the anti-trafficking agency, NAPTIP, Nigeria's success in reducing on-going trafficking in persons may be very minimal.