Publication Details
Abstract
International human trafficking remains a pervasive and dehumanizing social challenge, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in Nigeria and beyond. This study investigates the impact of Nigeria’s migration policies on curbing human trafficking, alongside the socio-economic factors driving this illicit trade between 2015 and 2021, focusing on Nigeria, Benin Republic, Spain, and Italy. Guided by Lee’s Push and Pull Factors Theory and Todaro’s Expectancy Theory, the research explores how poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and the lure of better livelihoods propel victims into traffickers’ hands. Employing a mixed-methods survey design, data were collected from 300 purposively sampled participants, including government officials, traffickers, victims, NGOs, and law enforcement agencies, through structured questionnaires and interviews. Findings reveal that while Nigeria’s migration policy offers protection and aims to regulate movement, gaps remain in enforcement and awareness. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of education, and gender discrimination significantly contribute to trafficking vulnerability. Spain stands out as meeting minimum standards to combat trafficking, whereas Nigeria, Benin, and Italy struggle with prosecution and victim support. Effective measures identified include border policing, inter-border cooperation, public enlightenment, and stronger legal frameworks. The study concludes that human trafficking’s socio-economic toll—loss of human resources, revenue, and dignity—necessitates urgent legislative reforms, robust funding, and collaborative multi-sectoral strategies. It recommends depoliticizing anti-trafficking efforts, enhancing victim rehabilitation, integrating trafficking education into curricula, and fostering employment opportunities for vulnerable groups.