The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the surge in migration and human trafficking across Nigeria to the country’s long-standing economic hardship.

Speaking on Monday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the public unveiling of Vicious Red Circle, a novel by Ambassador Alex Ugochukwu Oriaku that explores the harsh realities of human trafficking, Yilwatda said years of economic decline had left many Nigerians vulnerable to exploitation.

“Our economic decay spanning over four decades created fertile ground for exploitation. When industries collapsed and hope disappeared, migration and trafficking surged,” he stated.

Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Chairman of the African-European Migration and Development Team, Yilwatda noted that the root cause of the problem lies in Nigeria’s persistent economic challenges.

He urged all stakeholders to embrace community-based and inclusive strategies in tackling human trafficking, emphasizing that the responsibility should not rest solely on government institutions.

“We can end this cycle. This book challenges us to act. It should not just sit on your shelf — it should stay in your heart,” he added.

Ambassador Oriaku, author of Vicious Red Circle, described human trafficking as “a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of exploitation, vulnerability, and silence,” explaining that his work was written as a call to action rather than fiction.

The event, chaired by Yilwatda, brought together lawmakers, heads of government agencies, and development partners, all of whom emphasized the need for stronger collaboration to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.