By Babs Oyetoro
More than 100 Nigerians serving prison terms in Ethiopia may soon be transferred home after the Federal Government concluded arrangements with Ethiopian authorities on a prisoner transfer agreement.
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 formal signing of the agreement scheduled for Wednesday.
The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol ahead of the signing ceremony.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement would allow convicted Nigerians currently detained in Ethiopian correctional facilities to complete their jail terms in Nigeria under mutually agreed legal procedures.
She revealed that four Nigerian inmates died during the prolonged negotiations and ratification process leading to the deal.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” the minister said in a statement posted on her official X handle.
According to her, the affected Nigerians are being held at Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.
The minister described the agreement as a major diplomatic and humanitarian milestone between both countries, noting that it reflected the strong bilateral ties shared by Nigeria and Ethiopia.
She stressed that while the Federal Government continues to advise Nigerians abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and uphold the nation’s image, it remains committed to protecting citizens facing legal challenges overseas.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
She also commended the Ethiopian government for its cooperation and support in finalising the agreement.
