VZCZCXRO1146
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #1518 1670823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160823Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6115
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 4367
UNCLAS ABUJA 001518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KCRM KWMN NI
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NIGERIAN RESPONSE TO THE TIP
REPORT
REF: STATE 85543
1. Poloffs delivered the TIP demarche (reftel) to Nigeria's
National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons
(NAPTIP). Participants included the agency directors for
legal and prosecution, counseling and rehabilitation, and
public enlightenment. NAPTIP accepted the report in "good
faith" and agreed that its details were largely accurate, but
they took issue with the language that Nigeria had not met
"minimum standards." They also stressed that meeting minimum
standards should be measured against available resources and
that they would continue trying to make improvements in the
coming year. They claimed that a lack of resources limits
their ability to act more aggresively.
2. The interlocutors said they cooperate with the police,
but the level of cooperation they receive depends on the
person in charge of each particular office. However, NAPTIP
said they are receiving particularly good cooperation from
Immigration and Customs authorities.
3. NAPTIP has adopted or is planning to adopt a number of
"best practices" they believe should entitle them to Tier 1
status. They say that they are trying to be a regional
leader in anti-trafficking efforts and cited cooperation with
Benin as an example. They say they have also worked hard to
break through a "voodoo myth" through which some victims do
not cooperate with authorities because they believe a curse
has been placed on them. In terms of future plans, they say
they plan to establish a law enforcement forum to allow
discussion of issues related to trafficking. They also plan
a data center project and will work to sensititze first level
responders on how best to interact with victims.
4. COMMENT: NAPTIP has limited resources, but they are
still comparatively better funded than many other GON
agencies. We have doubts about their ability to collect
planned data and the utility of "forums to discuss the
issues." NAPTIP and Nigeria still have much work to do to
obtain Tier 1 status. Post will continue communicating with
NAPTIP so that they understand the specific standards which
caused them to be placed in Tier 2. END COMMENT.
ANYASO