Human Trafficking: The Hidden Cost Of Exploitation

As the global community commemorates the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons this week, Nigeria must reckon not only with the human cost of trafficking but also with its long-overlooked economic implications. While trafficking in persons is primarily a gross violation of human rights, it is equally a parasitic economic crime, one that drains national productivity, stifles development, and undermines the country’s long-term economic prospects.
Nigeria, unfortunately, remains a hotspot in the global trafficking network. Each year, thousands of Nigerians, particularly women and children, are lured or coerced into forced labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and organ trade, both within its borders and abroad. This massive outflow of human capital, often in the prime of their productive years, constitutes a silent hemorrhage to the national economy.
Human trafficking robs the economy in three significant ways. First, it strips the country of its most valuable resource, human capital. Victims, many of whom are young, educated, or trainable individuals, could have contributed meaningfully to various sectors of the economy, from agriculture and education to technology and manufacturing. Instead, they become part of a shadow economy where their labour enriches criminal networks rather than national development.
Second, trafficking thrives in and perpetuates informal, unregulated labor markets. These shadow systems not only exploit individuals but also evade taxes and reduce the formal labour force, weakening Nigeria’s revenue base. For instance, when young girls are trafficked to become domestic workers without any legal protections or income documentation, the country loses in multiple ways: there is no taxable income, no pension contribution, and no skills development.
Third, trafficking undermines investor confidence. A country plagued by poor law enforcement, corruption, and widespread human exploitation is less attractive to responsible foreign direct investment (FDI). Companies wary of reputational risk avoid environments where child labour or forced labour is rife, and where the rule of law is weak. Nigeria’s ability to fully benefit from global trade and ethical sourcing agreements depends on its commitment to ending trafficking and related labour abuses.
While institutions such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have made progress in investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases, the economic lens is still largely missing from national discourse. Anti-trafficking measures must therefore go beyond humanitarian gestures; they should be seen as economic interventions essential to sustainable development.
To stem the tide of trafficking and protect the nation’s economic future, the government must invest in job creation and social protection programmes that reduce the economic desperation that traffickers exploit. The government must improve education and skills training, particularly in rural communities where trafficking recruitment is most aggressive.
The government must also strengthen border control and internal migration management to track and prevent the illegal movement of vulnerable people. Also, there is a need to enforce labour laws and support formal employment pathways for domestic workers, artisans, and low-income earners, sectors that are often trafficking-prone.
There is also a need to engage the private sector in building ethical supply chains and funding reintegration programmes for trafficking survivors.
Ending trafficking is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity. Every trafficked Nigerian is a lost opportunity for growth, innovation, and development. This week, dedicated to the war against trafficking in persons, Nigeria must commit to safeguarding its people, not only as a matter of justice but as a strategy for long-term economic resilience. The cost of inaction is far greater than we can afford.