By Abdullahi Lukman
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing climate change awareness and reducing human trafficking vulnerabilities in Nigeria.
The MoU was finalized on Friday, with both agencies committed to working together to address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
Professor Charles Anosike, Director General/CEO of NiMet, stated that the agency is dedicated to providing early warnings and climate-related information to help at-risk communities prepare for extreme weather events.
He emphasized that climate change exacerbates the vulnerability of individuals to trafficking, an issue that has not been fully acknowledged in the context of climate disasters.
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In her response, Binta L. Adamu Bello, Director General of NAPTIP, welcomed the partnership and stressed the importance of raising awareness about the link between climate change and human trafficking.
She highlighted that climate-induced disasters, such as floods, often lead to distress migration, increasing the risk of human trafficking.
As part of the MoU, NiMet will provide climate and weather-related advisory services, including early warnings about extreme weather events, seasonal climate outlooks, and vulnerability assessments.
NiMet is to also assist NAPTIP in identifying high-risk areas where displacement could lead to trafficking, offering expertise to integrate climate risk data into anti-trafficking strategies and producing a climate vulnerability map for better risk assessment.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward reducing the impacts of climate change while also addressing the growing concern of human trafficking in the country.
