By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The Federal Government and the Ethiopian government are set to sign a bilateral agreement that will pave the way for the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners currently serving various jail terms in Ethiopia back to Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an official visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, describing the development as a major milestone in the efforts to protect the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
According to the minister, the agreement, known as the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, will be signed alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and is aimed at strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia while ensuring that affected Nigerians serve the remainder of their sentences closer to home.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the initiative was undertaken on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration places a premium on the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens irrespective of their location.
She expressed appreciation to the Ethiopian government for its cooperation and support throughout the negotiations leading to the agreement.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for whom the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remains a priority, I wish to convey our sincere appreciation to the Government and People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for this important milestone,” she said.
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The Merit Newspaper reports that the minister disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the lengthy period of negotiations, judicial vetting and ratification processes, stressing that Nigeria could not afford to lose more citizens.
“We are determined to bring home the living,” she stated.
She noted that while the Federal Government continues to encourage Nigerians living and travelling abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and uphold the image of the country, it remains committed to ensuring that citizens who run into conflict with the law are treated with dignity and accorded their rights under applicable international legal frameworks.
The agreement is expected to facilitate the return of Nigerians held in Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Ethiopia, enabling them to complete their sentences in correctional facilities in Nigeria.
Officials said the arrangement underscores the commitment of both countries to humanitarian principles, justice and enhanced bilateral relations.
