Trafficking: Titi Atiku laments Nigerian girls becoming ‘a nuisance’ abroad
Chief Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chairperson of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), criticized the growing issue of Nigerian girls being trafficked abroad, calling them a 'nuisance' in foreign countries. Speaking during the presentation of NACTAL's review of the U.S. Department of State's 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, she emphasized the need for international partners to support Nigeria's anti-trafficking efforts to keep girls within the country. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between civil society organizations and government agencies to combat trafficking and child labor effectively. Abdulganiu Abubakar, a former NACTAL president, noted that while Nigeria has made progress with support from development partners, challenges such as insufficient funding, lack of political will, and difficulties in prosecuting trafficking cases persist.
Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), has criticized the growing number of Nigerian girls migrating abroad, calling them a "nuisance" in their host countries. She made the remarks during a public presentation in Abuja on Thursday, discussing NACTAL's review of the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the United States Department of State. According to her, the international support for Nigeria's anti-trafficking efforts stems from a desire to keep Nigerian girls within the country instead of allowing them to become burdens elsewhere. Atiku Abubakar stated that international partners are assisting Nigeria not only in its anti-trafficking initiatives but also in ensuring that the girls can thrive domestically. "They are supporting us, they are supporting the girls," she said. "They want them to stay at home and do whatever they want to do in their homes, in their country." She emphasized the need for increased collaboration among civil society organizations, noting that NACTAL alone cannot effectively address issues such as human trafficking, abuse, and child labor. "We have about 286 foot soldiers, those are the CSOs working with NACTAL," she explained. "So we must bring everybody on board to help in this fight." Abdulganiu Abubakar, the immediate past president of NACTAL and regional representative of the West African Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, noted that the contributions of the Nigerian government, development partners, and civil society organizations were underrepresented in the U.S. report. He mentioned that NACTAL commissioned a review following the report's release to assess Nigeria's efforts in victim protection, rehabilitation, and shelter provision. Development partners have supported policy development, provided assistance to victims, and helped refurbish shelters operated by civil society organizations and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Approximately 10 NAPTIP shelters have benefited from such refurbishment efforts, though these contributions were not adequately highlighted in the U.S. report. Abubakar acknowledged ongoing challenges in implementing anti-trafficking policies in Nigeria, including insufficient funding, weak political will, and difficulties in prosecuting high-profile cases. He urged the federal government to increase financial support for relevant ministries, departments, and agencies and to demonstrate stronger commitment to enforcing existing policies. He also called for an enabling environment for civil society organizations and development partners to operate independently while complementing government efforts. Additionally, he encouraged the government to recognize the roles played by over 289 NACTAL member organizations and Nigeria's involvement in regional anti-trafficking initiatives in West Africa. NACTAL President Osita Osemene announced plans to expand the network from approximately 286 civil society organizations to 500 within three months and at least 1,000 within a year. This expansion will include capacity-building programs aimed at strengthening support for victims and vulnerable populations. "The fight against human trafficking is a collective responsibility," Osemene said. "Everybody must come together to ensure that this fight is won."
2 reports
The PunchIndependentCenterFactual 75Objective 605 hr. ago
Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chairperson of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), stated that Nigerian girls are becoming a 'nuisance' in foreign countries, which she claims has prompted international support for anti-human trafficking efforts in Nigeria. She explained that international partners aim to keep Nigerian girls within the country rather than having them become burdens on host nations. Abubakar emphasized the need for greater collaboration between civil society organizations to combat human trafficking, noting that NACTAL relies on over 286 partner organizations. Abdulganiu Abubakar, a former NACTAL leader, mentioned that the 2025 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report did not fully reflect the contributions of the Nigerian government, development partners, and civil society in combating trafficking, including improvements to shelters for victims.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statements from Titi Atiku Abubakar and Abdulganiu Abubakar regarding human trafficking and international partnerships. It does not exhibit clear bias toward any political side, as it reports on concerns raised by a prominent figure and includes perspectives on the role of civil
Why factuality (75): The article accurately reports Titi Atiku Abubakar's statements about Nigerian girls being a 'nuisance' abroad and her explanation of international support for anti-trafficking efforts. It includes direct quotes and contextual details such as the event (presentation of NACTAL’s review of the 2025 Tr
Why objectivity (60): The article presents the speaker's views but uses phrases like 'decries trafficking,' 'becoming a nuisance,' and 'burden on their host countries,' which carry a negative connotation and may imply judgment. The framing emphasizes the speaker's perspective without presenting counterpoints or alternati
Vanguard NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 70Objective 555 hr. ago
Chief Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chairperson of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), criticized the growing issue of Nigerian girls being trafficked abroad, calling them a 'nuisance' in foreign countries. Speaking during the presentation of NACTAL's review of the U.S. Department of State's 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, she emphasized the need for international partners to support Nigeria's anti-trafficking efforts to keep girls within the country. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between civil society organizations and government agencies to combat trafficking and child labor effectively. Abdulganiu Abubakar, a former NACTAL president, noted that while Nigeria has made progress with support from development partners, challenges such as insufficient funding, lack of political will, and difficulties in prosecuting trafficking cases persist.
Bias read (Center): The article presents perspectives from multiple stakeholders, including a prominent figure in anti-trafficking efforts and representatives from civil society. It highlights both the challenges faced by Nigeria in combating human trafficking and the collaborative efforts involving government, civil-s
Why factuality (70): This article similarly reports Titi Atiku Abubakar's comments about Nigerian girls being a 'nuisance' abroad and the rationale for international support. It provides context about the event and her position within NACTAL. However, it does not provide additional verification or external sources to co
Why objectivity (55): The article leans into the speaker's rhetoric, using terms like 'decried human trafficking' and 'nuisance,' which can be seen as emotionally charged. While it mentions her call for collaboration, it doesn't present opposing viewpoints or balance the narrative with broader perspectives on migration o
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