The newly appointed Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Lami Adamu Bello, has vowed to enforce stringent measures to combat human trafficking in Nigeria. As she assumed office in Abuja, Bello emphasized her commitment to fully implementing national laws and counter-trafficking policies, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Addressing the management and officers of NAPTIP, Bello expressed her determination to reduce human trafficking incidents across the country. She pledged to strengthen existing policies, strategize efforts, and motivate the agency’s workforce to deliver on their mandate. “I am ready for enforcement,” she declared. “We shall not, by the grace of God, disappoint Mr. President who has directed me to continue from where others stopped.”
Bello, who succeeded Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi as the eighth Director General of NAPTIP, underscored the importance of teamwork, urging all staff to align with the agency’s vision and mission. She announced plans to set monthly targets for each officer, emphasizing that performance would be closely monitored and evaluated.
During an enlarged management meeting, Mr. Josiah Emerole, Director of Research and Programme Development, congratulated Bello on her appointment and expressed confidence in her leadership. He highlighted her notable achievements in previous national roles, including positions as Permanent Secretary at the Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, and Aviation, and as a Director at NAPEP and the Ministry of Finance. Emerole assured her of the unwavering support of NAPTIP’s trained professionals and loyal officers.
The meeting culminated in the official handover of key institutional documents and policies to the new Director General. Bello’s extensive experience in various government roles has been cited as a testament to her suitability for this crucial position.
With her appointment, stakeholders are optimistic that NAPTIP will see a renewed vigor in its fight against human trafficking, an issue that has plagued the nation for years. As Bello takes the reins, she promises an open-door policy and a focused approach to making NAPTIP more effective in its mission to protect vulnerable individuals and bring traffickers to justice.