AS part of efforts by the Republic of Nigeria to support air laws against unruly behavior on board aircraft, the country has deposited Protocol to Amend the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, done at Montreal on 4 April 2014’ also known as “The Montreal Protocol 2014”, with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika made the deposition on behalf of Nigeria on Wednesday at the United Nation agency’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
In a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu , the Minister while depositing the Montreal Protocol 2014 said: “This is historic for Nigeria having been the Twenty-second state to deposit the ratification and give strength to the implementation which will come into effect from 1 January 2020. It is President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire that this law come into effect because it will mitigate against unlawful interference on board aircraft.”
“Nigeria will continue to support any law that will make air transport even safer. And this is one of them.”
Secretary General of ICAO, Dr. Fang Liu while accepting the document attested to the fact that ICAO needs 22 countries to ratify this protocol for it to become effected and Nigeria is the 22nd state to have completed the process hence, it will come into effect from 2 January 2020.
“I am delighted to announce that with this deposit, the Montreal Protocol 2014 will enter into force on 1 January 2020. I wish to commend Nigeria for being the twenty-second state to have completed the ratification process of this instrument,” Dr. Liu said.
“The Montreal Protocol 2014 amends the convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, done at Tokyo on 14 September 1963 (Tokyo Convention, 1963). The Protocol addresses the issue of rising incidents of unruly and disruptive behavior on board aircraft by significantly improving the ability of states to expand jurisdiction over relevant offences and acts to the operator. The Protocol will also serve to enhance global aviation security provisions by expressly extending legal recognition and protections to n-flight security officers.”
Apart from the Montreal Protocol 2014, Nigeria deposited ratification of the “Protocol Relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation [Article 50(a)], signed at Montreal on 6 October 2016”, which is the proposal to increase Council member states from the current Thirty-Six (36) to Forty (40).
Also deposited was the “Protocol Relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation [Article 56], signed at Montreal on 6 October 2016”, which is the increase of Air Navigation Commission (ANC) membership from 19 to 21.
NAPTIP Hands Over IEC Materials To FAAN, Broadens Campaign Against Human Trafficking
National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) is broadening its campaign against human traffickers and organ harvesters around the nation and has donated Information Communication and Education(IEC) materials to help sensitize travellers on the perils of being trafficked.
This is just as the agency has said about 408 human traffickers have been convicted with no fewer than 17,000 victims rescued and counselled.
Director General NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli made this known, last week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) during the official presentation and handover to FAAN 70 roll-up banners and 30 wall banners on Human Trafficking Education, Reporting and Referral.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with NAPTIP and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) signed handover documents for Information Communication and Education (IEC) materials to help sensitize travellers on the need to be alert at the airport and for intending victims to have a second thought before embarking on that journey.
According to Dame Donli, the importance of handing over Information Communication and Education(IEC) materials is to increase vigilance and positive actions to intercept suspected human trafficking activities as seeing those point of reference campaign may be the factor which determines the decision of the victim.
She said,” To date, about 408 traffickers have been convicted and are serving various jail terms and almost 17000 victims have been rescued and counselled with good number of them empowered by the Agency including (5) five victims who were trained from primary schools to the university level who are now officers of NAPTIP.”
According to her, the fight against human trafficking requires collaborative efforts of everyone, all government agencies, individuals, especially people who operate at the airports and land borders.
She said,” The IEC materials will also infuse counter trafficking messages at conspicuous areas of our major airports, at Check-in and boarding areas, along boarding gates and as part of airlines inflight audio and visual communications”
Dame Donli also stated that as there are proposed plans of launching a Sex Offenders Register of Nigeria, she will be tinkering with her team to launch a human traffickers Register also, a concept aimed at naming and shaming such people as well as keeping the public aware of pedigree.
The United States has said it has invested over US400, 000 including materials and support to aid the anti- human trafficking campaign in and around Nigeria for this event.
Speaking earlier United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Representative, James Jewett explained that the US has supported this particular campaign with US$ 400, 000 with the core objective of combating human trafficking.
According to him, the US provided the funds for this particular event.
“With INL we do several things, one: which is capacity building, providing equipment, training also there are educational aspects where we try to educate the younger generation, school age kids up to college on the dangers of human trafficking in Nigeria, it’s a combination of capacity building
In his opening remarks, Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu commended NAPTIP for the vigor at which pursued its mandate and how it would help in broadening security around the nation’s international gateways.
The FAAN MD represented by Director of Security, Group Captain Usman S.A. Sadiq (Retd) said that the partnership with NAPTIP has provided a lot of benefits stating that the NAPTIP DG has proven to be a ‘man’ of her word as she promised to ensure the partnership transcends.
He also said the campaign is one that would improve facilitation around the nations airport, starting with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as the country’s busiest airport.
This handover of IEC materials is in continuation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project Implementation: Strengthening the Capacity of State and Non-State Institutions to Assist, Support and Protect Victims of Traffickers (VOT) in Nigeria.
