Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says the state government needs international support to sustain its efforts to curb human trafficking to Europe and cater for returnees.
Obaseki made the plea at the International Conference on Women Empowerment and the Fight against Trafficking in Persons in Rome, organised by the President of Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ms Laura Boldrini.
Mr Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, made the information known in a statement in Benin on Wednesday.
Obaseki said the state had built formidable structures and systems to receive and re-integrate victims of human trafficking and illegal migration who were indigenes of the state.
He, however, said the state required huge funds to sustain the rehabilitation of the returnees.
“We are spending a lot to reintegrate these young people into the society and we anticipate that the expenses would be more in the nearest future.
“We solicit for support from the European Union, the Italian government as well as other countries affected by this menace to be able to sustain the structures we have set up in the state,” he said.
The governor assured indigenes, who were victims of human trafficking and willing to return home of the Edo government’s support and rehabilitation.
“We acknowledge the fact that they are victims, and in many instances, they are entangled in human trafficking due to no fault of theirs.
‘’We are extending an open hand to them and assuring them of support when they return,’’ the governor said.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government recently received three batches of over 200 returnees from Libya.
The returnees were subsequently enrolled in capacity development programmes and placed on a stipend for three months.
NAN also reports that the state government has set up a task-force to oversee the process of rehabilitating and assimilating returnees.
The Edo Government has also sent a bill to Edo State House of Assembly for the enactment of a law to strengthen the fight against human trafficking. (NAN)
