AN INVESTIGATION INTO PUSH FACTORS SUSTAINING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

Human trafficking is mostly recognized as modem day slavery and as such it is not historically new. However, the dimensions of its operations across the globe call for urgent measures that would arrest its multifaceted devastating effects. This paper therefore delved into sustaining push factors of human trafficking in Nigeria with a view to recommend methods of curbing them. Participants are Four Hundred and Five Nigerians (males=325 females=445) selected through multi-stage from the three major zones of the country (West, East and North). "Questionnaire on Causative Factors of Children and Women Trafficking" (QCFCWT) developed and validated by the researcher was employed to generate data. One research question and two research hypotheses were posed and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated that at mean decision point of 3.00 inability to meet the basic needs of life is most potent factor sustaining human trafficking in Nigeria (x= 3.41). This is closely followed by having children more than one can cater for (x = 3.13) and lack of information about realities and dangers of trafficking (x= 3.12). Further analysis showed that there was significant difference on gender basis while no significant difference existed on age basis. On the basis of this findings, it was recommended among others that governments should practically improve the economic base of all families through tested and viable economic policies