- He added that all responses must prioritise victims, especially women and children, with confidentiality and compassion
- He warned that the appointments were not ceremonial, urging the officers to act with diligence
- Pedro described the initiative as a deliberate strategy to disrupt trafficking networks before they take root
The Lagos State Government has taken its anti-human trafficking campaign to the grassroots with the inauguration of Local Government Focal Persons and Neighbourhood Safety Corps Desk Officers across the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the inauguration ceremony was held on Monday at the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency office in Alausa, Ikeja, with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), presiding.
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Pedro described the initiative as a deliberate strategy to disrupt trafficking networks before they take root, noting that such crimes often thrive where institutions are weak and coordination is lacking.
He said the Sanwo-Olu administration was determined to deny traffickers any safe operational space in Lagos.
Under the new framework, heads of legal units in all 20 local government areas and 37 LCDAs will serve as focal persons for the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, working closely with designated officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
According to Pedro, the arrangement combines legal authority with community-level intelligence, creating a first line of defence against trafficking at the local level.
He warned that the appointments were not ceremonial, urging the officers to act with diligence, integrity and a strong sense of duty.
In his remarks, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Hameed Oyenuga, said the initiative reflects a coordinated, policy-driven approach to tackling trafficking through community engagement and institutional clarity.
Task Force Coordinator, Olamide Ibrahim, outlined the operational framework, stressing the importance of defined roles, disciplined coordination and respect for institutional mandates.
He added that all responses must prioritise victims, especially women and children, with confidentiality and compassion.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) commended the state government, describing the decentralised approach as a critical step toward sustainable prevention and enforcement.
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