Olawale B. Salami, PhD
Olawale B. SALAMI is a Reader and teaches History and Diplomacy in the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. Untill, July 31, 2025, he was the Head of Department of History and Diplomatic Studies. He has published widely in reputable academic journals. He is married with kids.
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria.
Session
THE NIGERIAN–MALAYSIAN CONNECTION IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FORCED LABOUR
By
Olawale Bakare SALAMI, PhD
0000-0002-6737-2808
wale.salami@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng
Department of History and Diplomatic Studies
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Over the past few decades, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in transnational organised crime, particularly human trafficking and forced labour, which has drawn many of its citizens, especially young people, into irregular migration routes leading to Malaysia. This evolving Nigeria–Malaysia trafficking corridor, marked by complex networks and severe human rights violations, requires sustained scholarly attention. Accordingly, this paper examines the socio-economic drivers of trafficking, the operational structures of trafficking networks, and the multidimensional impacts on both countries.
With the use of documentary evidence, victim testimonies reported in the media, policy documents, and interviews with anti-trafficking officials, the study explores how traffickers exploit structural poverty, irregular migration pathways, porous borders, and deceptive recruitment practices. It analyses the operational strategies of trafficking groups, including fraudulent employment offers, debt bondage, passport confiscation, and sexual exploitation, and identifies the roles played by both Nigerian actors and their Asian collaborators in sustaining these criminal economies.
The paper further assesses gaps within Nigeria’s anti-trafficking framework, challenges surrounding bilateral cooperation with Malaysia, and persistent inconsistencies in repatriation and victim-support mechanisms. It highlights how weak law-enforcement coordination, limited diplomatic leverage, and fragile socio-economic institutions contribute to the resilience of these intercontinental trafficking networks.
The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening international collaboration, enhancing community-level awareness, improving digital surveillance of trafficking routes, and building more robust protection systems for vulnerable populations. The article contributes to the growing body of scholarship on transnational crime in the global South.
Keywords: Human Trafficking, Nigeria, Malaysia, Forced Labour, Sexual Exploitation, Vulnerable Populations