Hope for Nigerian Prisoners as Ethiopia Signs Transfer Pact

Hope returned to the cell blocks of AbaSamuel Prison in Addis Ababa as Nigerian inmates erupted in celebration over a newly signed bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia, a deal that clears the way for eligible prisoners to be brought home to complete their custodial terms.

The Federal Government facilitated the agreement through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, who described the prisoners as visibly overjoyed when the news reached them. The prisoners thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad.

Reacting in a post on X on Saturday, Ojukwu captured the mood at the facility. “The atmosphere was absolutely electric. Our incarcerated nationals were ecstatic! Happiness Renewed; Hope Renewed,” she wrote. She added that the inmates expressed “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.”

The minister stressed that protecting citizens overseas remains central to government policy. “The welfare of our citizens abroad, regardless of where they may be, is of paramount importance under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she stated.

The pact is the product of months of diplomatic and legal engagement. The deal is aimed at facilitating the repatriation of Nigerian inmates held in Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia, with the minister disclosing that over 100 Nigerian prisoners are affected. It was facilitated by Ojukwu and her Ethiopian counterpart, Gideon Timothewos, with Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi signing for Nigeria and Ethiopia’s justice minister, Hanna Arayaselassie, signing for her country.

The urgency of the arrangement was underscored by losses recorded during negotiations. Four Nigerian inmates died while talks, judicial vetting, and the ratification process were ongoing, with about 100 Nigerians, including four women, serving various terms across the two facilities. The government has been working to secure the repatriation of nearly 300 citizens serving sentences in Ethiopia amid worsening conditions in detention centres such as Kaliti Prison.

During a visit to AbaSamuel Prison, Ojukwu delivered a message of reassurance on behalf of the President. “Your Country will not desert you. Your President knows you are here,” she told the inmates. She urged Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries while affirming that those in legal difficulty would not be abandoned.

Ojukwu said the arrangement recognises the role of family, language, culture, and social support systems in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, reflecting a shared understanding that correctional systems should provide opportunities for reformation. Timothewos noted that the bilateral relationship between both countries, spanning more than six decades, should be strengthened through continuous consultation on issues of mutual interest.

The agreement is expected to enable convicted persons from both nations to serve their sentences closer to their families and support networks.