UNODC tasks Nigerian media on fight against organised crimes

UNODC tasks Nigerian media on fight against organised crimes
NAN-HG-8
Media
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called on Nigerian media to work with government agencies to tackle human trafficking and other organised crimes in the country.
The UNODC Country Representative, Ms Cristina ALBERTIN, made the appeal when she paid a courtesy call to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja on Friday.
ALBERTIN explained that media was a major stakeholder which had a lot of roles in the fight against human, child trafficking, corruption, illicit drugs and other organised crimes in the country.
“The media play critical roles in terms of advocacies and raising of awareness against human trafficking issues and other organised crimes.
“Addressing child or human trafficking which is a global problem cannot be delegated to only one agency, stakeholder like the media must partner with relevant agencies.
“Over two years that I have been in Nigeria, I have been participating in various activities and working with the media and I have always been on the same page with them,” she said.
The outgoing representative, who said that she will be leaving Nigeria for Egypt in couple of days, however lauded the Nigerian media for accurate reportage.
ALBERTIN explained that UNODC deals on issues of human and child trafficking, corruption, illicit drugs, small and light weapons, among others.
Responding, Onanuga noted that human and child trafficking as well as money laundering were issues that must be given serious attention.
He decried activities of some African countries, including Nigerians that were being trafficked to Europe through Libya, adding that such people needed to be seriously educated.
The managing director said that he was aware that the European Union has been at the fore front in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and the world.
He said that illicit transfer of funds across Africa was worrisome and needed to be addressed.
Onanuga advised the organisation to partner the media in implementing its mandate in Nigeria. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola