Nigeria and Ethiopia have finalised arrangements for the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian inmates serving prison sentences in the East African country, paving the way for them to complete their terms in Nigeria.
The agreement is expected to be formally signed in Addis Ababa, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to conclude the process. The Nigerian delegation was welcomed by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that negotiations had taken a considerable amount of time, noting with regret that four Nigerian prisoners died while discussions, judicial reviews and ratification procedures were ongoing.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she said in a post on her X account.
She identified Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison as the facilities where the affected Nigerians are currently being held.
The minister described the prisoner transfer agreement as a reflection of the longstanding diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Ethiopia, built on humanitarian principles, justice and mutual cooperation.
While reiterating the Federal Government’s call on Nigerians living abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and uphold the nation’s image, she stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring that citizens facing legal challenges overseas receive fair treatment within established legal frameworks.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad remains a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and expressed appreciation to the Ethiopian government for its collaboration in making the agreement possible.