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Presidential candidate Peter Obi, representing the Labour Party, has issued a compelling call to action, urging the Federal Government and key stakeholders to eradicate all forms of modern-day slavery.  

The former Governor of Anambra State conveyed this imperative in a statement released on his official platform on Saturday, coinciding with the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

In his statement, Obi asserted the necessity for heightened governmental efforts to combat child labor, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking while emphasizing the restoration of the dignity of distressed Nigerians. Aligning with the global commemoration of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Obi condemned modern slavery as a reprehensible historical act.

"Today, as the global community observes the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we unite our voices against the most obnoxious act in the history of our race," he declared. Emphasizing the values of freedom, peace, and unity in the nation, Obi underscored the need to stand against actions diminishing the dignity and freedom of individuals.

Highlighting Nigeria's lamentable record of modern-day slavery, both domestically and through citizens exported into slavery, Obi linked the recent surge in insecurity and high poverty rates to an alarming increase in individuals forced into child labor and various forms of sexual exploitation.

Citing reports from the Walk Free Organization's 2023 Global Slavery Index and Innovations for Poverty Action, Obi revealed staggering statistics, including 1.6 million individuals living in modern slavery in Nigeria on any given day in 2021. Nigeria ranked fifth in Africa and 38th globally in terms of the prevalence of modern slavery.

Moreover, he referenced a publication by Innovations for Poverty Action, estimating that one million Nigerians are trafficked annually, positioning Nigeria as a significant source, hub, and destination country for human trafficking.

In light of these disconcerting facts, Obi called for intensified efforts by the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders to completely abolish the shameful practice of slavery, emphasizing the imperative of restoring the dignity of citizens in distress. He concluded by asserting that slavery, in any form, has no place in the envisioned new Nigeria, which should be a land of dignity for all citizens.