The Edo State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking and irregular migration within the state’s transport sector.
This pledge was made during a two-day training workshop for the Assembly’s Committees on Transport and Judiciary, which concluded on Thursday in Benin City.
The initiative, organised in collaboration with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Centre for Development and Cultural Interchange, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, aimed to enhance lawmakers’ capacity to address these pressing issues.
The Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Ojie Eugene Inegbeboh, and the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Honourable Ahmed Waziri Oshomah, expressed their commitment to bolstering laws to combat human trafficking. Both lawmakers emphasised the need for stronger legislation and collaboration to effectively address the menace.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Emmanuel Sule, Executive Director of CDCI, outlined the purpose of the workshop.
“The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of legislators to understand the dangers of human trafficking and irregular migration, as well as the laws that exist at international, national, and state levels to combat these crimes. It also focused on equipping lawmakers to review existing laws and develop new ones targeting trafficking in the transport sector,” Sule said.
He noted that the programme was supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and ICMPD to educate lawmakers on these issues and provide actionable solutions.
Mrs. Rhoda Dia-Johnson, representing the ICMPD Regional Office West Africa, delivered remarks on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing trafficking and migration challenges.
“At ICMPD, we believe that sustained change is achievable through collaboration, strategic partnership, capacity building, and unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges that confront our countries,” she said.
Dia-Johnson also underscored the shared mission between the stakeholders, saying, “This workshop reflects our collective aim to build a safer and more secure Edo State.”
The training highlighted the critical role of legislative support in combating human trafficking and irregular migration. By partnering with international organisations and leveraging global best practices, the Edo State House of Assembly is poised to enact measures that will address these challenges and promote safety within the transport sector.
