By Evelyn Usman

In furtherance of  its anti human trafficking campaign , the National  Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP yesterday, charged drivers of the GUO Transport Company  to avail it with information that could lead to the rescue of victims of human trafficking as well as arrest of the masterminds, both in Nigeria and the West African region.

NAPTIP’s Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution Department ,Ijeoma Amugo, gave the charge during  the  launch of  anti human trafficking project  between the agency and  GUO transport, at the  latter’s company in Cooker, Badagry expressway, Lagos.

The project which was sponsored by the Canadian government through its consultant- Ark Group, according to Amugo,  was  to sensitize drivers, passengers and  the general public on the dangers of human trafficking.

While handing over the information, communication and educational  materials to the  company’s Brand Manager, Mr Nweke Bernard, Amugo, informed that the contact numbers  on the roll –up banners were accessible , even  outside Nigeria.

In an interview with journalists, she explained that “ The car stickers are to be pasted on drivers’ vehicles while  the reflective jackets are to be worn by the drivers.  The  roll up banners are  to sensitize drivers and passengers on the ills of human trafficking as well as the signs to look out for.

“ But we have taken note of the jackets that are not enough. When  we go back, we will write a report and produce more because we have been reliably   informed that the number of drivers is many. We will make sure  we bring more reflective jackets to serve the drivers”.

Responding to  question on how possible it was to hand over suspects to NAPTIP, if apprehended outside Nigeria, Amugo said, “ There is internal trafficking and external trafficking. When it is external and GUO drivers alert us, we have our members we always call because we  work with government agencies  in the West African region and the rest of the world.

“We also have  intelligence officers on ground to take it up. Any information we get concerning external trafficking, we make sure we liaise with the government and agencies over there to ensure we rescue the victim and bring back the suspects for further investigation and prosecution”.

In his response, GUO Brand Manager,  said the company was in full support of the NAPTIP’s project , being “ a  customer’s centric organization that does well to promote comfort, safety and timely travel across Nigeria and West Africa

“Collaborating with an agency that is trying to alleviate and eradicate human trafficking is a  very great collaboration and we are looking forward to the great experience that will come with it”

Noting  that  the company considered its drivers as one of its greatest assets and fore runners  of its business, he informed that modalities for regular information dissemination had been put in place to ensure safety of all passengers.

Part of the safety measures according to him was the deployment of terminal checks and inspections. According to him, “We have colleagues that are on the road 24/7, trying to check passengers and luggage. They are not just on the lookout  for signs of human trafficking victims  but illegal movements of contrabands as well ”.