RESPONSE TO FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON TIP INTERIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 002454

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO INL/CTR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2009
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN NI
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON TIP INTERIM
ASSESSMENT

REF: LAGOS 2301

Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for reason 1.5(b).


1. (U) The information below responds to interim assessment
follow-up questions from the November 19, 2004, email from
Rachel Yousey.


2. (U) Has NAPTIP investigated any of the informant reports
of corruption among law enforcement, immigration, and airport
officials?

Answer: NAPTIP has begun to pursue some allegedly corrupt
officials working at the airports (see paragraph 3). NAPTIP
officials said they are taking a cautious approach because of
the sensitivity of the issue of corruption. They need to be
careful not to engender animosity within the police force and
Immigration Service. For their credibility and because of
the inertia that sometimes affects the legal system, they
know the first cases they pursue must be built on very solid
information. They considered their visits to various
agencies to warn officials about the new law an important
step in laying a foundation for pursuing cases effectively.


3. (C) What is NAPTIP doing to address corruption among
officials at the airports?

Answer: NAPTIP has requested undercover access to airports
from the minister of aviation. The agency has information on
TIP syndicates that operate in the airports. Agency officials
believe, however, that undercover access is necessary to
finish building their cases and to arrest those officials
involved in the alleged syndicates. The minister of aviation
currently is considering NAPTIP's request.


4. (U) Have Immigration Service anti-trafficking units done
anything concrete? Are they actually engaged in combating
trafficking?

Answer: The units are engaged in combating trafficking. The
head of the unit in Edo State reported that they have
presented public seminars in all local government areas.
They support NAPTIP in surveillance, arrests, and
prosecutions. They receive deported victims and provide them
a non-accusatory rehabilitative environment. They interview
the victims and help them find their relatives or connect
them with a shelter.


5. (U) What has the Ministry of Labour and Productivity's
repatriation program accomplished? How many victims have been
provided this food, transportation, and reunification
assistance? Does the assistance overlap with that provided by
NAPTIP and other programs?

Answer: According to ILO, which funds the Ministry of Labour
program, no children have been repatriated through the
program yet. With the first round of funding, the Ministry
has conducted preparation activities, including training
staff in several states and distributing information about
the program to Nigerian embassies in other West African
countries. ILO expects to release the second funding tranche
soon, with a goal of repatriating 100 externally trafficked
children and 200 internally trafficked children. It is
expected NAPTIP and other agencies will rely on this program
for repatriation assistance when victims are identified.
BROWNE