TITI ATIKU RAISES ALARM OVER NIGERIAN GIRLS ABROAD, LINKS CONCERN TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By NaijaParrot October 16, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — Chief Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has sparked discussion after describing Nigerian girls abroad as becoming a “nuisance” in their host countries. She made the remark on Thursday in Abuja during the presentation of a review by the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) of the United States Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Speaking at the event, Titi Atiku explained that international partners were supporting Nigeria’s anti-trafficking efforts partly because they wanted more Nigerian girls to remain in their home country rather than migrate abroad and become a burden on host communities. “Our girls are becoming nuisance in overseas countries. So that is why these partners are helping us,” she said. She added that the support was intended to strengthen the fight against human trafficking while helping vulnerable girls build their lives in Nigeria. 

 Titi Atiku, who chairs NACTAL’s Board of Trustees and founded the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), also called for stronger cooperation among civil society organisations to tackle human trafficking, child abuse and child labour. She stressed that NACTAL could not address the challenges alone and urged more organisations to join the campaign. 

 At the same event, Abdulganiu Abubakar, the network’s immediate past president, said Nigeria continued to face challenges in implementing anti-trafficking policies, including inadequate funding and weaknesses in prosecuting cases. He called on the Federal Government to increase funding for relevant agencies and strengthen its commitment to protecting victims. NACTAL President Osita Osemene also announced plans to expand the organisation’s membership and improve the capacity of civil society groups working to combat trafficking and support vulnerable people. 

 Human trafficking and unsafe migration remain important concerns for Nigeria, with anti-trafficking organisations working to protect vulnerable people from exploitation. While Titi Atiku’s remarks focused on the challenges associated with Nigerian girls travelling abroad, the broader issue also involves the need to address trafficking networks, economic vulnerability and the protection of Nigerians both at home and overseas. 

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