The United States Department of State has revealed that the Nigerian government assisted only 675 of the 2,004 victims of human trafficking identified during the reporting period, despite allocating N233 million for victim services.

The agency disclosed this in its 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Nigeria, which noted that the government maintained efforts to protect trafficking victims.

“The government identified 2,004 victims (893 sex trafficking; 1,111 forced labour), similar numbers to the 2,058 trafficking victims identified during the previous year. The government maintained SOPs and an NRM. The government also had SOPs to assist victims exploited abroad, as well as during and after repatriation,” it said.

It added that the government maintained standard operating procedures and a National Referral Mechanism to identify and assist victims, including Nigerians exploited abroad and those receiving assistance during and after repatriation.

According to the report, the number of victims who received government assistance dropped to 675 from 2,058 in the previous reporting period.

The agency said the government provided shelter, healthcare, counselling, legal services, vocational training and repatriation assistance, both directly and through partnerships with civil society organisations.

It added that the government worked with foreign governments and an international organisation to repatriate 428 Nigerian victims who were exploited abroad.

“The government allocated 233 million naira ($161,000) for victim services, an increase compared with 128 million naira ($88,276) the previous year,” the agency said.

The report noted that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) continued to operate 14 shelters across its 10 zonal commands, primarily serving women and children.

NAPTIP has been contacted for comment.

It said the government provided legal, medical, psychosocial, family reunification and vocational services to victims housed in the shelters.

It added that residents were not allowed freedom of movement in the shelters because of safety concerns, while victims who did not face such risks could be placed directly in shelters operated by non-governmental organisations.

“The government did not provide services to adult victims who declined shelter services, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking.

“The anti-trafficking law prohibited the penalisation of trafficking victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked,” it said.