Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a landmark Prisoner Transfer Agreement that will allow convicted citizens of both countries to return home to serve the remainder of their prison sentences, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic relations, consular cooperation and humanitarian justice between the two African nations.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the breakthrough after the agreement was formally signed at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa. The development comes days after her visit to the AbaSamuel Prison, where she informed Nigerian inmates that arrangements had been concluded for their eventual transfer back home.
Describing the agreement as a major diplomatic achievement, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said it would allow sentenced citizens of either Nigeria or Ethiopia to complete their prison terms in their home countries, where they can benefit from family support, familiar cultural environments and better prospects for rehabilitation.
“Done and Dusted! Here at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we signed a landmark agreement that will allow sentenced citizens of either country… Nigeria or Ethiopia, to return to their home nation to serve the remainder of their prison terms,” she stated.
The minister disclosed that Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Arayaselassie, formally appended their signatures to the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement in the presence of senior government officials from both countries.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the agreement represents “a major milestone, marking a major step in consular cooperation and humanitarian justice between our two nations.”
The announcement follows her recent visit to AbaSamuel Prison in Addis Ababa, where dozens of Nigerians are serving various prison terms. During the visit, she revealed that four Nigerian inmates had died while in custody, while several others were critically ill and in urgent need of improved medical care.
“…the exhilarating moment when I visited the AbaSamuel Prisons, Addis Ababa to break the news to our boys that they will soon be returning home for service of the remainder of their prison terms as a result of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement Nigeria has just signed with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Renewed Joy; Renewed Hope,” she said.
She added: “We have already lost four of the inmates, and several others are critically ill and need better care and medical assistance.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement aligns with the Citizen Diplomacy pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
“This Prisoner Transfer Agreement with the Government of Ethiopia is a landmark. Under the Citizen Diplomacy imperative of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains committed to the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad,” she said.
The Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos, also welcomed the agreement, noting that Nigeria and Ethiopia have enjoyed strong bilateral relations dating back to the 1960s. He emphasized the need for continued consultation and cooperation on issues of mutual interest to further strengthen ties between both countries.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Timothewos “noted that Ethiopia and Nigeria enjoy longstanding bilateral ties dating back to the 1960s and underscored the importance of continued coordination and consultation on issues of mutual interest to further strengthen the longstanding relations between our two countries.”
She further explained that the accord reflects the shared commitment of both governments to justice and a more humane correctional system.
“This accord is a reflection of the shared commitment of our two nations to justice, and to a more humane approach to custodial administration,” she stated.
The minister said the arrangement recognizes the critical role played by family support, language, culture and social connections in the rehabilitation process and would enhance opportunities for inmates to reform and eventually reintegrate into society after serving their sentences.
