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Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed an agreement enabling convicted citizens to be transferred to their home countries to complete their prison sentences.
The agreement, known as the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, was signed during a ceremony at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Announcing the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the deal as “a major milestone, marking a major step in consular cooperation and humanitarian justice between our two nations.”
Under the arrangement, Nigerian and Ethiopian citizens convicted and sentenced in either country will be eligible to serve the remainder of their prison terms in their home countries, subject to the conditions of the agreement.
The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Arayaselassie, in the presence of senior government officials from both countries.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the accord reflects the shared commitment of Nigeria and Ethiopia to a more humane approach to justice.
“This accord is a reflection of the shared commitment of our two nations to justice, and to a more humane approach to custodial administration,” she said.
She added that the arrangement recognises the importance of family and community ties in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
“This arrangement also recognizes the critical role of family support, language, culture and social connections in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, thereby facilitating opportunities for reform and eventual reintegration into society,” she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also thanked officials, experts and technical teams from both countries for their role in concluding the negotiations that led to the agreement.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos, noted that both countries enjoy “longstanding bilateral ties dating back to the 1960s” and stressed the need for continued coordination and consultation on issues of mutual interest to further strengthen relations between the two nations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remains a key pillar of the country’s foreign policy.
Done and Dusted!
Here at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we signed a landmark agreement that will allow sentenced citizens of either country…Nigeria or Ethiopia, to return to their home nation to serve the remainder of their prison terms.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of… pic.twitter.com/jeEbnPXNj6— Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (@Ojukwu_Bianca) June 12, 2026
