Nigeria Moves to Expand Prisoner Transfers to More Countries

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to amend the country’s law on the transfer of convicted offenders, aiming to allow Nigeria to implement prisoner-transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth.

The President transmitted the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the upper chamber.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the accompanying letter during Tuesday’s plenary.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 2004 Transfer of Convicted Offenders Act to give effect to agreements between Nigeria and other nations regarding the transfer of convicted persons.

A key provision of the amendment would empower the President to extend the application of the Act to countries with which Nigeria has entered into relevant agreements through an order published in the Federal Gazette.

Tinubu said the amendment would provide the necessary legal basis for implementing these agreements, potentially broadening Nigeria’s options for negotiating and enforcing prisoner-transfer arrangements beyond the Commonwealth.

The bill, transmitted in accordance with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, requires consideration by the National Assembly before it can become law.

“While it is my hope that the Senate will consider this submission expeditiously, please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest consideration,” Tinubu wrote.