The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has expressed concern over the involvement of some travel agents in facilitating human trafficking, calling for stricter oversight and ethical accountability within the industry.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa spoke at the 59th anniversary and annual conference of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies held in Ibadan, where stakeholders gathered to discuss developments in the travel sector.
She highlighted a growing pattern in which vulnerable Nigerians especially young women are trafficked abroad using legitimately issued travel documents. According to her, several recent cases involving stranded Nigerians point to systemic lapses that require urgent attention.
Citing incidents in Cairo, she said Nigerian diplomatic missions are increasingly overwhelmed by victims abandoned after being trafficked. She questioned the role of agents who process travel arrangements without verifying the intent or safety of such journeys.
Dabiri-Erewa urged travel operators to go beyond commercial obligations and take responsibility for identifying suspicious travel trends, particularly involving minors or unaccompanied young persons.
She also referenced a case at a Nigerian airport where a group of teenage girls, suspected to be trafficking victims, were allowed to board an international flight despite attempts to intervene.
The NiDCOM boss warned that failure to address such practices could damage the credibility of legitimate operators, urging industry players to expose unethical actors within their ranks.
She further recounted a fatal case involving a Nigerian woman trafficked to Iraq, where she reportedly died under unclear circumstances, underscoring the human cost of weak oversight.
According to her, travel agents must adopt due diligence measures, including verifying travel purposes and reporting irregularities, as part of broader anti-trafficking efforts.
She also called for stronger collaboration between NiDCOM and travel agencies, particularly in information sharing and early detection mechanisms.
Beyond trafficking, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged operators to project a positive image of Nigeria globally, describing them as key actors in promoting tourism and national identity.
In his remarks, the president of NANTA, Yinka Folami, said the association is taking steps to eliminate unprofessional practices through the establishment of a training institute aimed at improving standards across the sector.
Also speaking, the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable growth in tourism and the creative industry.
She noted that the government is prioritising long-term collaboration with industry stakeholders to expand economic opportunities, reduce dependence on oil, and strengthen Nigeria’s global cultural presence.
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