Senate moves to make landlords verify tenants in anti-trafficking push
- Senate want landlords to verify tenants' identity, including through NIN, to help security agencies track criminals.
- E don ask NAPTIP and other agencies to investigate travel agencies wey dem suspect say dey traffic Nigerians, especially for Libya.
- Lawmakers also want make dem regulate short-let apartments and increase funding for anti-trafficking work and victim support.
Senate don call for tougher tenancy rules wey go require landlords to confirm who dia tenants be, including through National Identification Number (NIN), as part of efforts to fight human trafficking, kidnapping and other crimes.
The resolutions follow after dem adopt joint committee report on protecting Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and human rights abuses for Libya. The report come from Senate Committees on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations; Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; Foreign Affairs; and Special Duties.
Senator Anthony Yaro (Gombe South), wey present the report, talk say the committees consult stakeholders and look at earlier motion on trafficking of Nigerians for Libya.
Travel agencies in the spotlight
Senate ask National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) make e work with police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate travel agencies wey dem suspect say get links to trafficking and exploitation.
According to the lawmakers, the probe suppose look at recruitment networks, financial transactions and travel arrangements wey fit lead to prosecutions. No agency or individual don convict in connection with the allegations.
Senate also want make dem review existing laws and enforce dem better, including Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and Child Rights Act, 2003. E call for more funding for NAPTIP and related agencies to improve investigations, prosecutions and support for victims.
Lawmakers also propose National Reintegration and Protection Programme for returning victims, wey National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons go coordinate with NAPTIP. Dem urge Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deepen engagement with Libya on intelligence sharing, border management and return of victims.
Why e matter to ordinary Nigerians
For renters and landlords, Know-Your-Tenant rule fit mean say person go show ID before dem hand over flat, and landlords fit dey questioned when crimes happen for dia property. Senate also want make dem regulate short-let apartments, dey warn say unverified rentals fit shelter criminals.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio talk say landlords wey no fit account for dia tenants fit be treated as accomplices. He recall the case of three children wey dem allege say dem abduct for Akwa Ibom and move through Aba, Katsina and Lagos before dem almost traffic dem to Ghana, talk say dem miss for 93 days before dem rescue dem.
Senator Aminu Tambuwal cite Sokoto State's Rent Control and Management Commission as model, while Senators Neda Imasuen, Babangida Hussaini, Adams Oshiomhole and Mohammed Aliero warn say laws alone no go work without enforcement, public enlightenment and jobs to reduce pressures wey push Nigerians into irregular migration.
Wetin happen next: The resolutions na directions to agencies and push for new legislation. E never clear when tenancy bill go come before National Assembly or how states go respond.
