Nigeria’s Economic Struggles Driving Rise in Human Trafficking, Says APC Chair Yilwatda

Story Rewrite by Uzuh Rita October 28,2025
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the increasing cases of human trafficking and irregular migration in Nigeria to decades of severe economic decline.

Speaking at the public unveiling of Vicious Red Circle, a book authored by Ambassador Alex Ugochukwu Oriaku at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Yilwatda noted that prolonged hardship has pushed many Nigerians into desperate situations where traffickers easily exploit them.

He explained that the deterioration of industries and lack of economic opportunities over the last forty years have worsened vulnerability among citizens, resulting in a surge in trafficking activities. Yilwatda also reflected on his previous role overseeing humanitarian and migration-focused initiatives, emphasizing that economic challenges remain at the root of the crisis.

The APC chairman called for a collective, community-based response that includes civil society, development partners, and local leaders rather than relying solely on government entities.

Ambassador Oriaku described human trafficking as a destructive cycle driven by poverty and silence, stressing that his novel serves as a national call to action rather than fiction alone. The event attracted lawmakers, top officials of relevant agencies, and representatives of international organizations, all advocating stronger partnerships to combat the growing menace.