By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Federal Government (FG) has broken its silence on the perennial death of Nigerians in Ethiopia’s notorious Kaliti prison, saying that the two Nigerians who died in prison had some underlying ailments.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, the Federal Government disclosed that it is working on a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian authority, that will dovetail into a prison swap between the two nations.
The statement noted that information obtained by the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa from the Federal Prison Hospital, Kaliti regarding the death of Ms. Favour Chizoba on 12th March 2023, revealed that she died of cardiac arrest, having had a history of hypertension and cardiac disease.
“Similarly, on the death of Mr Joachim Uchenna Nwanneneme, a Nigerian inmate in the same Kaliti Prison on 22nd September 2023, the official report indicated he died of kidney failure. He was previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, which according to the hospital officials, prompted his isolation,” the statement further revealed.
Mrs Omayuli said: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a video by one Dr Paul Ezike making the rounds on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Dr. Ezike’s narration as exaggerated and blown out of proportion, while his assertion of inaction by the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa to the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates, is unfair and misleading.
Over 270 Nigerian nationals are serving various prison terms in Ethiopia. Most of them are incarcerated for drug-related offences.
The Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa, as with other Nigerian Missions world over, embarks on regular consular visits to these prisons to ascertain and attend to the wellbeing of Nigerian inmates, and in the same vein engage with host authorities on their behalf.
“The Ethiopian authorities, on the other hand, have always maintained that Nigerian inmates are not treated differently from other inmates, Ethiopian inmates inclusive.
Scarce resources and budgetary constraints, amidst the growing number of inmates, often feature as the main challenge for the prison authorities.
It is in this regard, that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in response to the demands of Nigerian inmates, is in the process of concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Transfer/Exchange of Prisoners with the Ethiopian Government.
When finalized, this will enable Nigerian Inmates to complete their jail terms in Nigeria, where their family members could complement the government’s efforts towards their maintenance in prison”.
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This, she said, will be particularly beneficial to inmates with underlying illnesses.
The statement added that being a transit hub, Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport receives massive movement of passengers and cargo to over 127 international destinations daily.
The FG added that there are, reported cases of daily interceptions of drug traffickers, noting that “sadly, Nigerians have been identified as major culprits”.
The statement noted that this has contributed to the undue profiling and ill-treatment of a few innocent Nigerians transiting the Airport.
“It is, however, an exaggeration for Dr Ejike to claim that all holders of the Nigerian green passport are subjected to profiling at the Bole International Airport, which receives four commercial flights from Nigeria daily with over two thousand passengers.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Mission in Addis Ababa, will continue to engage with the Ethiopian authorities to address irritants in the bilateral relations of the two friendly countries, caused by a few individuals,” the statement concluded.
