On 29 November 2025, the launch ceremony of the Common Operational Partnership France–Italy–Nigeria (COP Nigeria) was held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Co-funded by the European Union, contracted by the ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility and implemented by CIVIPOL in partnership with the DCIS of the French Ministry of the Interior and the Italian ministry of the interior, this project aims to increase Nigeria’s capacity to effectively dismantle trafficking in human beings (THB) and smuggling of migrants (SoM) networks. To this end, the COP Nigeria project is based on a mentoring and operational support methodology aimed at accompanying the daily work of operational services of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Created in 2003 following the adoption of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, NAPTIP is a federal agency mandated to prevent human trafficking, prosecute offenders and protect and rehabilitate victims, and promote public awareness. Despite significant achievements since its creation, common and global efforts must be pursued and intensified as Nigeria remains a source, transit and destination country for THB and SoM networks, notably towards Europe. This new partnership is the operational translation of this necessity.
Present at this kick-off meeting, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Marc FONBAUSTIER, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier MIGNOT, both emphasized the major step forward that this action-oriented project represented. Representatives from NAPTIP and civil society showed great enthusiasm for this new milestone in the country's commitment to tackling these issues, which have a direct impact on people's lives and fundamental rights, and which exploits in particular the most vulnerable.
This meeting provided an opportunity for the key partners of the project to reaffirm their ambition to develop a joint response to these trafficking activities and to present the operational results expected over the next two years including:
🔹 Support capacity-building to counter migrant smuggling and trafficking
🔹 Promote operational relationships between Nigeria and other countries for a strengthened regional response
🔹 Enhance coordination and information-sharing among partner institutions
First Common Operational Partnership initiative in Nigeria, this new COP was built on the successes of other COPs implemented by CIVIPOL in West Africa, including Ivory Coast, Guinea or Senegal, and the tangible operational results that this model so far delivered.
