Decades of economic despair fueling human trafficking – APC Chair

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that decades of economic despair in Nigeria have contributed significantly to the rise in migration and human trafficking. Prof. Yilwatda made this known on Monday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the public presentation of Vicious Red Circle — […]

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that decades of economic despair in Nigeria have contributed significantly to the rise in migration and human trafficking.

Prof. Yilwatda made this known on Monday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the public presentation of Vicious Red Circle — a novel by Ambassador Alex Ugochukwu Oriaku that exposes the harsh realities of human trafficking in the country.

“This book is more than pages and print; it is courage in ink. It reflects the pain of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to traffickers because of economic despair,” Yilwatda said.

He explained that Nigeria’s prolonged economic decline had created fertile ground for exploitation.

“Our economic decay over four decades created fertile ground for exploitation. When industries collapsed and hope disappeared, migration and trafficking surged,” he added.

Recalling his experience as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Chairman of the African-European Migration and Development Team, Yilwatda traced the roots of human trafficking to Nigeria’s persistent economic challenges.

He called for community-driven and inclusive strategies to combat the menace, stressing that the fight must go beyond government institutions to involve families, schools, and local communities.

“We can stop this cycle. This book challenges us to do so. It must not remain on your shelf — let it remain in your heart,” he urged.

Ambassador Oriaku described human trafficking as a “vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of exploitation, vulnerability, and silence,” noting that his book was written not merely as fiction but as a clarion call for collective action.

The event, chaired by Prof. Yilwatda, drew lawmakers, heads of government agencies, and development partners, all of whom emphasised the need for stronger collaboration to stem the tide of human trafficking in the country.