Nigeria, Philippines Forge Pact to Boost Labour Mobility, Fight Human Trafficking

Nigeria, Philippines Forge Pact to Boost Labour Mobility, Fight Human Trafficking

•Countries eye stronger migrant protection systems.

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Nigeria and the Republic of the Philippines have pledged to deepen cooperation in labour migration and step up the fight against human trafficking, in a move both governments say will create safer and more dignified work opportunities for their citizens abroad.

At a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Philippine Secretary of Migrant Workers, Hon. Hans Leo J. Cacdac, agreed to strengthen bilateral labour agreements, improve migrant worker protection systems, and share strategies to combat trafficking.

“Our priority is clear: we want Nigerians going abroad to work in safety, with dignity and full protection under the law. We are studying the Philippines’ globally recognised model for protecting overseas workers, and we aim to adapt it for our own diaspora,” Tuggar said.

The Minister noted that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy “4D” agenda; Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora and recalled Nigeria’s historic ties with the Philippines, including the contributions of Filipino professionals in Nigeria’s education, maritime, and aviation sectors.

Cacdac, delivering a message from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said the Philippines is committed to ensuring Filipino migrant workers in Nigeria remain safe and supported. He also requested the creation of a Migrant Workers Office within the Philippine Embassy in Abuja to “better serve our people here and their families back home.”

“Our goal is not just to protect our nationals, but to work with Nigeria to create safer migration pathways for all workers, while closing the door on traffickers and illegal recruiters,” Cacdac said.

The Philippine delegation included senior officials in charge of anti-trafficking enforcement, pre-employment protocols, and international cooperation. Both sides agreed to explore a formal labour migration framework, capacity-building exchanges, and direct liaison mechanisms between ministries.

Cacdac stressed that the Philippines remains a signatory to the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and will work closely with Nigeria to uphold those principles. “Labour mobility should be a story of opportunity, not exploitation,” he said.

The visit, which will include meetings with Nigeria’s Ministry of Labour, is expected to produce new bilateral agreements in the coming months, expanding professional exchanges and reinforcing both countries’ commitment to tackling human trafficking while enabling safe, regulated migration.