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The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has linked the prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia to the economic hardship and lack of opportunities that have driven many young Nigerians to embark on risky migration journeys in search of better prospects abroad.
Nigeria and Ethiopia recently signed an agreement allowing nationals of either country who have been imprisoned to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had revealed that four Nigerians died in Ethiopian prisons while negotiations on the agreement were ongoing.
Obi, in a post shared on X on Tuesday, commended the Nigerian government for concluding the negotiations, describing the development as refreshing.
The NDC presidential candidate mourned the deceased Nigerians and sympathised with their families, whom he said had endured “the ultimate pain of losing loved ones in a foreign land.”
According to Obi, the prisoner transfer arrangement reflects a broader systemic crisis in Nigeria, particularly as many young people undertake dangerous migration journeys in search of better opportunities.
“While we commend this humanitarian intervention, it serves as a reminder of a larger systemic crisis. The overwhelming majority of these citizens are young Nigerians. A significant number were arrested while transiting through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport in search of greener pastures,” Obi said.
“While we must continually urge our citizens to remain law-abiding and respect the laws of host nations wherever they travel or reside, we must also ask ourselves a hard question: What drives our young and productive population into desperate circumstances around the world?”
Obi called on the government to create more economic opportunities, strengthen the education system, and improve correctional facilities to better support rehabilitation and reintegration.
“Until we build a New Nigeria that offers genuine economic opportunities, a functional educational framework, and an environment where hard work is rewarded, we will continue to grapple with the tragic consequences of mass emigration and its associated vulnerabilities,” he added.
“As these citizens are brought home to serve out their terms, our correctional facilities must be properly managed with a focus on genuine rehabilitation and societal reintegration. Let us use this moment not just for short-term relief, but as an urgent call to build a nation that protects, values, and empowers its citizens here at home.”
Reflecting on the Prison Exchange with Ethiopia
The news of the conclusion of the prisoners exchange between Nigeria and Ethiopia is refreshing.
Every life is precious, and ensuring the constitutional right to human dignity for all Nigerians – regardless of where they are or…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 16, 2026
