Italy earmarks 1.9m euro to fight human trafficking in Nigeria

The country ambassador to Nigeria, Massimo Baistrocchi, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor Oserheimen Osunbor in Government House, Benin City.

Baistrocchi, who said he was already working with the Nigeria ambassador designate to Italy, Eheneden Erediauwa, to bring in Italian businessmen for the establishment of some industries in the country, disclosed that his country was working with some organisations in Nigeria like NAPTIP to curb trafficking.

He however promised to work to improve on the relationship between Nigeria and his country with particular attention to Edo State.

Osunbor called for support from the government of Italy in its bids to reduce or eliminate human trafficking in the state, expressing the need for all stakeholders to partner with the government to establish cottage industries in all parts of the state.

This will bring about development and create job opportunities for the teeming youths who may be tempted to be involved in human trafficking.

According to him, the state government is not comfortable with the revealed statistics of human trafficking between the two countries.

My administration has put in place legislation and appropriate legal framework to bring about the reduction in the incidence of human trafficking in the state.

He said the state was the first in the country to sign into law the Child Rights Bill, adding that he had since directed the relevant ministry to put in place the appropriate mechanism for its implementation.