Vunderkind
Social Member
Some politicians on Friday in Lagos advocated a stiffer penalty for human traffickers.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the politicians said that human trafficking was repulsive to moral values and should be treated as such.
They hailed the senate for increasing the penalty for the offence but said it was not stringent enough.
NAN reports that the Senate on Wednesday passed a bill stipulating a minimum of seven years imprisonment or a minimum fine of N1 million for human traffickers.
The bill -- Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Bill -- seeks to repeal and amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act of 2003.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), FCT Chapter, Mr Sunny Moniedafe, called for 20 years imprisonment for offenders.
``It should be increased to 20 years and enforced aggressively to scare intending offenders," he suggested.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA), Mr Sam Onimisi, canvassed for a 10 years imprisonment for human traffickers.
``Human trafficking is slave trade and disgusting to our moral values," Onimisi said.
A female activist, Mrs Grace Oni, also called for 10 years imprisonment for human traffickers.
According to her, human trafficking violates the fundamental rights of a person.
``Year by year, Nigerian children are engaged in exploitative child labour; hence, the need for stiffer penalties," Oni said.
On his part, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Mr Denis Aghanya, advised the three tiers of government to take urgent steps to create jobs to curtail human trafficking.
``Because of lack of opportunities, parents give out their kids for trafficking, believing that the child has either gone to be gainfully employed or has gone to learn a trade," Aghanya said.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the politicians said that human trafficking was repulsive to moral values and should be treated as such.
They hailed the senate for increasing the penalty for the offence but said it was not stringent enough.
NAN reports that the Senate on Wednesday passed a bill stipulating a minimum of seven years imprisonment or a minimum fine of N1 million for human traffickers.
The bill -- Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Bill -- seeks to repeal and amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act of 2003.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), FCT Chapter, Mr Sunny Moniedafe, called for 20 years imprisonment for offenders.
``It should be increased to 20 years and enforced aggressively to scare intending offenders," he suggested.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA), Mr Sam Onimisi, canvassed for a 10 years imprisonment for human traffickers.
``Human trafficking is slave trade and disgusting to our moral values," Onimisi said.
A female activist, Mrs Grace Oni, also called for 10 years imprisonment for human traffickers.
According to her, human trafficking violates the fundamental rights of a person.
``Year by year, Nigerian children are engaged in exploitative child labour; hence, the need for stiffer penalties," Oni said.
On his part, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Mr Denis Aghanya, advised the three tiers of government to take urgent steps to create jobs to curtail human trafficking.
``Because of lack of opportunities, parents give out their kids for trafficking, believing that the child has either gone to be gainfully employed or has gone to learn a trade," Aghanya said.
