Nigerian inmates serving prison sentences in Ethiopia have expressed joy following the signing of a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia, a development that will enable eligible prisoners to complete their jail terms in Nigeria.
The agreement, facilitated by the Federal Government through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, paves the way for the eventual repatriation of Nigerian nationals currently incarcerated in Ethiopian correctional facilities.
The inmates, housed at AbaSamuel Prisons in Addis Ababa, reportedly welcomed the arrangement with excitement and appreciation, thanking President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad.Reacting to the development in a post shared on X, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the emotional atmosphere among the inmates during her visit.”The atmosphere was absolutely electric. Our incarcerated nationals were ecstatic! Happiness Renewed; Hope Renewed,” she wrote.
According to the minister, the prisoners expressed overwhelming joy at the prospect of returning home to serve the remainder of their sentences closer to their families and support systems.”Pure unaltered joy at the prospects of returning to their homeland for conclusion of custodial terms, courtesy of the landmark Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons we have just signed with the Government of Ethiopia,” she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to the protection and welfare of Nigerians, irrespective of their circumstances or location.”The welfare of our citizens abroad, regardless of where they may be, is of paramount importance under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she added.
The agreement is expected to facilitate the transfer of convicted persons between both countries, allowing eligible inmates to complete their custodial terms within their home country, a move widely regarded as beneficial to rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
The prisoner transfer arrangement follows sustained diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and Ethiopia aimed at addressing humanitarian concerns surrounding Nigerian inmates held in Ethiopian prisons. More than 100 Nigerians are expected to benefit from the agreement once implementation begins.
