Head of Office, International Organisation for Migration, IOM Lagos, Victor Lutenco has called for more robust collaborations between the State and Federal Government agencies, international bodies and non governmental organisations to effectively combat trafficking in persons.
Lutenco made the call during his goodwill message at the handling over of a countering human trafficking office to the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, LNSA by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States government.
He, who commended the Lagos State Government for taking proactive steps such as collaborating with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, IOM, UNODC among others to tackle the menace of trafficking in persons.
The Head of Office also noted that there is need to increase the measures against trafficking internally and externally especially with the JAPA Syndrome which he described as being at an all time high.
Earlier, Representatives of the Donors, First Secretary, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Eva De-Wilt and Consul General, U.S Embassy, Nigeria, Will Stevens expressed their readiness to stand with Nigeria in thr fight against trafficking in persons, which they described as a heinous crime against humanity.
Blacktalker who was present at the event, reports that the fully fitted five room office structure for the Countering of Human Trafficking will house officers of the LSNA, officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Human Trafficking among others.