NIGERIA: NAPTIP PLEASED WITH TIP REPORT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001040 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, G/TIP DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON DOJ FOR KWABENA YAMOAH E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM KWMN KPAO SMIG ELAB NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NAPTIP PLEASED WITH TIP REPORT AND REQUESTS FURTHER ASSISTANCE REF: A. STATE 58389 B. STATE 57481 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Heather Merritt for reasons 1 .4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered a copy of the eighth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Director of Investigations and Monitoring, and second in command at the agency, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, was pleased that Nigeria remained a Tier 2 country rather than slipping back to the Tier 2 Watchlist category. Hopeful to someday move to Tier 1, Babandede asked what Nigeria needs to focus on in order to make it to the next level. Highlighting the recommendations listed in the report, Poloff encouraged NAPTIP to continue the hard work they have exhibited, but to focus on increasing prosecutions and convictions, as well as victim care and protection. Babandede was grateful that the report noted the specific achievements made by NAPTIP; and ultimately agreed that Nigeria has a lot more work to do. He was also delighted that the report noted NAPTIP's need for additional funding to carry out its mandate. ¶2. (C) U.S. Mission Nigeria has developed a good working relationship with Mr. Babandede and many other top officials at NAPTIP. Babandede told Poloff that NAPTIP is eager for additional USG guidance, training, and assistance. In reference to the country narrative's recommendation for an increase in the number of convictions of traffickers, Babandede asked for help in obtaining equipment that would enable victims to testify via live video conference or DVC. (NOTE: Mr. Babandede has been to Embassy Abuja on a few occasions where he conducted DVCs, coordinated by Embassy Accra, with Ghanaian officials trying to emulate NAPTIP's success. Thus, he has seen first hand how useful the DVC technology can be. END NOTE.) Often victims do no want to return to Nigeria to testify or are afraid to attend the trials of their traffickers, and without the victims' testimony, it is extremely difficult to get a conviction. Babandede said he has spoken to several judges about the possibility of using DVC technology to obtain witness testimony and they seem amenable to the idea. ¶3. (U) Poloff also delivered a copy of the TIP report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but has not received any reply or comment as of yet. Additionally, post has not yet observed any local press coverage of the report. SANDERS