Nigeria, Ethiopia Sign Agreement to Repatriate 100 Nigerian Prisoners

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Ethiopia have signed an agreement to transfer more than 100 Nigerian prisoners currently serving sentences in Ethiopian correctional facilities back to Nigeria.

The deal, announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was finalized during a signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, alongside Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Ethiopian officials.

The agreement is a Bilateral Transfer of Sentenced Persons Treaty, designed to allow Nigerian inmates in prisons such as Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison to complete their sentences in Nigeria.

According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the initiative reflects the Nigerian government’s commitment to protecting citizens abroad and improving their welfare. She also noted that the negotiation process had been prolonged, during which at least four Nigerian prisoners reportedly died.

The deal is part of a broader effort by Nigeria to repatriate nearly 300 citizens held in Ethiopian prisons, many of whom are facing harsh conditions, including overcrowding and limited medical care.

Officials say the objective is to ensure that affected Nigerians serve the remainder of their sentences under better conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities while respecting international legal agreements.

The Nigerian government has urged citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries while continuing to assure support for nationals in foreign detention.

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