NAPTIP’s headquarters shut over COVID-19

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has shut its headquarters for the next one week to comply with protocols of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director General of the agency, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, handed down the directive to the staff members.

She instructed all officers working in the non-critical departments and units to proceed on a one week off-duty to enable full decontamination of the building.

According to a statement on Friday, the directive came following a report that two officers of the agency on Monday June 15, 2020, had close contacts with a woman suspected to have died of COVID -19 complications.

Advertisement

NAPTIP was one of the essential service-providing agencies that worked assiduously during the total lockdown directed by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force.

It focus was on the area of prompt response to distress calls from victims of sexual and gender based violence.

The agency had rescued over 30 victims, arrested about 45 suspects and charged about 24 cases to Courts during the period.

The statement issued and signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Stella Nezan, said, “the Director-General NAPTIP Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has ordered the closure of the Agency’s Headquarters for one week as a precautionary measure.

“All Officers are to go on a one week leave in accordance with NCDC guidelines to enable the Agency decontaminate its premises.

“In the meantime, all officers at the Agency’s Headquarters will be tested for Covid-19 before returning to work.

“The Director-General assures all Stakeholders and Partners that the operations of the Agency will continue, including real-time responses to cases of Violence Against Persons and Human Trafficking.

“Key Officers of the Agency will continue working online during this period.”