By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Burkina Faso to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons.
This was revealed in a statement on Sunday by spokesman of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Adekoye Vincent.
The new legal instrument was signed at the highpoint of the 3rd Nigeria/Burkina Faso Joint Commission held recently in Abuja.
According to Vincent, the MoU which is expected to intensify pressure on human traffickers and their cohorts operating within the two countries, is coming weeks after a similar agreement was signed between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger.
The document was signed by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Mistura Abdulkareem on behalf of Nigeria, while the Burkinabe Ambassador to Nigeria, Piabie N’DO signed on behalf of Burkina Faso.
Speaking, NAPTIP Director-General, Fatima Waziri-Azi, said the MoU was a major onslaught on the activities of human traffickers.
Director-General of the Burkina Faso Bilateral Cooperation, Bakyonon Kanzie, on her part said her country would implement all aspects of the agreement to the benefit of both nations.
