NACAT takes Anti-corruption, human trafficking campaign to Abuja villages, distributes food items

By Akpos Oghenetega,

As part of efforts to checkmate social vices and in fulfilment of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Network Against Corruption and Human Trafficking (NACAT) on Monday, December 19, 2022, had a massive sensitization campaign in Unguwan Hausawa Kpaduma 2 Asokoro Extension Guzape district, Federal Capital Territory, that centered on corruption, drug and human trafficking.

Led by one of its Executive Director, Samson Tega, and the director of legal and operations, Barrister Ovie Justice, NACAT, a pro-democracy Civil Society Organization duly registered under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to, amongst other things, work with stakeholders for purposes of contributing to the global war against corruption, financial crimes, terrorism and economic sabotage. The group promotes good governance, transparency, rule of law and sustenance of the security and wellbeing of Nigerians in the project of nation building

During the one-day sensitization exercise, the NGO distributed food items such as bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti, cartons of indomie, bags of salts, cartons of tin tomatoes, packets of maggi as well as cash to the villagers.

The NGO, which was received by the village head, Alhassan Muhammed and other community leaders, emphasized the need for the elderly people in the village to educate their children about the dangers of corruption, drugs, and human trafficking.

In his address to the villagers, NACAT Manager Stanley Ugagbe harped on how to identify human traffickers as well as drug tracking. He stated that the company’s goal is to combat corruption and human tracking in the country, and that it is ready to assist the community in combating corruption and tracking.

“We are a group of young people who came together to see how we can contribute to nation building. In our research, we discovered that drug dealing, arms trafficking and human trafficking are the largest crime industries in the world.

“When we narrow our research to Nigeria, we discovered that corruption is the major vice rocking the nation. In view of this, we came to the conclusion that if corruption and trafficking can be checkmated, the society will be a better place for all”.

He emphasized that they “are focused on clamping down on corrupt elements in the society. We track and checkmate the excesses of individuals and groups who live above their means, public servants who are complicit in contract racketeering, governmental office holders who are syphoning public funds.”

Harping on human trafficking, the Manager defined the term as the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others.

He recalled that as far back as 2014, the International Labour Organization (ILO), said forced labour alone (one component of human trafficking) generates an estimated $150 billion in profits per annum. He also recalled that in 2012, the ILO estimated that 21 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery. “Of these, 14.2 million (68%) were exploited for labour, 4.5 million (22%) were sexually exploited, and 2.2 million (10%) were exploited in state-imposed forced labour”.

According to Stanley, drug trafficking, a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws is another major vice that has eaten deep into the society. He stressed the need for the villagers to steer clear of the vice.

“If you are here and you are into drugs, or you have a brother, sister, mother, father, uncle, sibling, friend or you know anyone around you who is into drugs, tell them that there is an NGO in town whose mission is to weed the society of such people and we will not leave any stone unturned in doing so.”

Stanley continued that the NGO is not selective in its fight against corruption, human and drug trafficking. “Irrespective of your status or who is behind you, we will come after you once you’re found complicit in these vices.”

He emphasized that while they make conscious efforts to expose ills in the society, the NGO also aims at reforming those who have been trafficked, those who are into drugs with a view to restoring them to live their normal lives.

In his conclusion, he urged the villagers to be contented with what they have and live within their means. “Stay away from every social vice and always make do with what you have. Crime has its repercussion and no matter how long it takes, the implication will come. If you know anyone around you who is into drugs or have been trafficked, our doors are always open, kindly report such person(s) to us.

“Thank you very much for receiving us. It shows that you are good people and are receptive,” he added.

In his remarks, the Village head Alhassan Muhammed expressed gratitude to the NGO for deeming it fit to visit the community with such a crucial message. He stated as a community, they do not tolerate ill vices and will always deter such anomaly in the society.

Muhammed lauded the NGO for providing the food items as well as the cash. He prayed that God will reward the group, urging them to continue to devote themselves to humanitarian works in the society especially in remote villages as theirs.

Since its inception, NACAT has taken some politicians and civil servants to court for misappropriation of public funds. The NGO has also assisted in the rescue of victims of human trafficking and has been consistent in providing humanitarian services to the less privileged persons in society.