Sunday, June 14, 2026 - Nigerian inmates in Ethiopia are in a celebratory mood as
the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia recently signed a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) for persons who
have been sentenced in the country.
The agreement facilitated by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, will lead to the transfer of over 100
Nigerians from Ethiopian prisons back to Nigeria.
The media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, in a statement released, explained that under the legal framework, sentenced persons who are nationals of either country may, subject to agreed conditions and applicable laws, be transferred to their home country to serve the remainder of their sentences.
“This
arrangement recognises the important role that family, language, culture, and
social support systems play in the rehabilitation and reintegration of
offenders. It also reflects our shared understanding that correctional systems
should not only punish wrongdoing but should equally provide opportunities for
rehabilitation, reformation, and eventual reintegration into society.
For Nigeria,
the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remain a cardinal
responsibility of the government, particularly at a period when citizen-centred
diplomacy remains a key pillar of our foreign policy objectives,”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
Four Nigerian inmates had d!ed while the negotiations,
judicial vetting, and final ratification process were still ongoing.
A video shared online showed the Nigerian inmates
celebrating following the signing of the agreement.
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