The Federal Government has concluded arrangements with Ethiopia for the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners serving jail terms in the East African country, marking a major breakthrough in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Addis Ababa alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for the signing of the prisoner transfer agreement.
The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol ahead of the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the agreement followed years of negotiations, judicial processes and ratification procedures, revealing that four Nigerian inmates died before the pact could be finalised.
We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she wrote on her X handle.
According to the minister, the affected Nigerians are being held at Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.
She described the agreement as a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, built on humanitarian considerations, justice and bilateral cooperation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said while the Federal Government continues to urge Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and protect the nation’s image, it remains committed to ensuring that citizens facing legal challenges overseas receive fair treatment in line with international legal standards.
She stressed that the welfare and protection of Nigerians in the diaspora remain a top priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister also commended the Ethiopian government for its support and cooperation in making the prisoner transfer agreement a reality.
