The Nigerian and Ethiopian governments have signed a bilateral agreement that will enable more than 100 Nigerian prisoners serving jail terms in Ethiopia to be transferred back to Nigeria to complete their sentences.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the development following the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
According to the minister, the agreement covers Nigerian inmates currently detained in Ethiopia’s Kaliti and Aba Samuel correctional facilities and is designed to facilitate their transfer to Nigerian prisons.
“We have concluded a significant agreement with the Ethiopian government that will allow over 100 Nigerian prisoners currently held in Ethiopian correctional centres to be transferred back to Nigeria,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She explained that the pact, formally known as the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, was reached after extensive discussions between both countries and reflects a shared commitment to justice, cooperation and humanitarian values.
“The agreement we signed today is founded on the principles of humanity, justice and cooperation between our nations,” she stated.
The minister revealed that the Nigerian delegation was welcomed in Addis Ababa by senior Ethiopian officials, including the country’s foreign affairs minister and chief of protocol, ahead of the signing ceremony.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the initiative aligns with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
While encouraging Nigerians overseas to obey the laws of their host countries, she stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring that citizens facing legal challenges abroad are treated fairly and with dignity.
“We will continue to encourage Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of the countries where they reside. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that those who come into conflict with the law are accorded their rights and treated humanely under established legal frameworks,” she said.
The minister also disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died while negotiations and legal reviews surrounding the agreement were ongoing, underscoring the urgency of finalising the arrangement.
The transfer agreement comes amid growing concerns about conditions in some Ethiopian correctional facilities, particularly overcrowding, limited healthcare access and reports of inmate deaths.
Nigeria had been seeking the repatriation of nearly 300 citizens serving prison terms in Ethiopia, with the new agreement expected to provide a legal framework for affected inmates to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigerian correctional centres.
Government officials said the move is expected to ease the hardship faced by many Nigerians imprisoned in Ethiopia while strengthening judicial cooperation between the two countries.
