[Nigeria] Child Trafficking Traceable to High Level of Poverty -- Nnamani

from All Africa

Daily Champion (Lagos)

Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State has said that the problem of child trafficking in Nigeria and other African countries was traceable to the level of poverty, across the continent.

Governor Nnamani said this yesterday when the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Dr. (Mrs.) Ada Chizoba Okwuosa, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu.

Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, deputy governor, who represented the governor said the problem of human trafficking was a collective societal problem, which must be confronted by all.

Governor Nnamani said his government had taken deliberate steps to alleviating poverty through the provision of necessary infrastructure and empowerment of women and children to improve their welfare.

He commended the ministry for organizing the seminar in Enugu and urged them to come up with decisions and recommendations to tackle the problems of human trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the society.

Okwuosa said the Federal Government had resolved to stamp out human trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

The permanent secretary said that the ministry had intensified efforts at sensitizing Nigerians against the dangers of human trafficking and illicit spread of light and small arms in the society.

According to her the measures were taken by the decision of the United Nations (UN) and Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) on the war and battle against proliferation, globally. "We are focusing on UN and ECOWAS programme on the war and battle against arms proliferation of small and light weapons among our people," She stated adding that she was in the state as part of the Ministry's programme of organizing workshops for traditional rulers and religious leaders to mobilize the people in the state against human trafficking and light weapons. 'We got together highly eminent traditional rulers and religious leaders across the five states of the Eastern zone to mobilize and solicit assistance in reaching the grassroots on the problem of local production and support in the proliferation of small and light weapon" she said.