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Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerian nationals serving prison terms in Ethiopia that the Nigerian government has not abandoned them, following the signing of a prisoner transfer agreement between the two countries.
The President’s message was delivered by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a visit to Nigerian inmates at Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.
The visit came a day after Nigeria and Ethiopia signed a Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, which will allow eligible Nigerian prisoners to return home to complete their jail terms.
According to the minister, the agreement reflects the Tinubu administration’s citizen-centred foreign policy and commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad while respecting the laws of host countries.
“Your Country will not desert you…Your President knows you are here.”
This was the message of hope, and promise that we took to Nigerian inmates at the AbaSamuel Prisons, Ethiopia.
We signed, a few days ago, a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement with the Government of… pic.twitter.com/ryZmPug1Ml— Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (@Ojukwu_Bianca) June 13, 2026
Nearly 100 Nigerians Eligible for Transfer
The agreement is expected to benefit about 98 Nigerian inmates currently serving sentences in Ethiopian prisons, including two women. Most are held at Aba Samuel and Kaliti prisons.
To qualify for transfer, inmates must voluntarily consent to the arrangement and have at least one year remaining on their sentence.
The minister urged the prisoners to cooperate with authorities by completing the required documentation to facilitate their return to Nigeria.
Four Inmates Died During Negotiations
According to a statement by Magnus Eze, four Nigerian inmates died while negotiations, judicial reviews and administrative procedures leading to the agreement were ongoing.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the deal as being founded on humanitarian principles, justice and cooperation between both countries.
Warning Against Future Offences
While assuring the inmates of government support, the minister stressed that the agreement should not be viewed as a licence for criminal behaviour.
She encouraged them to embrace rehabilitation, acquire new skills and pursue lawful means of livelihood upon their return to Nigeria.
“Don’t travel these routes again. First time lucky, second time you don’t know where it’s going,” she told the inmates.
She also urged them to consider the emotional toll their imprisonment had placed on their families and to use the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Nigerian Correctional Service Ready
Representing the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Aminu Yusuf assured the inmates that arrangements had been made to receive them in Nigeria.
According to him, the prisoners will initially be processed at the Kuje Correctional Centre before being transferred to correctional facilities closer to their families where appropriate.
Inmates Welcome the Agreement
The announcement reportedly sparked celebrations among the inmates, who expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the Foreign Affairs Minister and their legal representatives.
The agreement was formally signed in Addis Ababa by Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Justice Minister, Hanna Arayaselassie.
The deal marks a significant diplomatic milestone between Nigeria and Ethiopia and is expected to ease the burden on affected inmates while allowing them to serve the remainder of their sentences closer to their families and support networks.
