Hope and jubilation swept through Ethiopia’s Aba Samuel Prison as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, delivered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of reassurance to Nigerian inmates, affirming that the Federal Government remains committed to their welfare and reintegration into society.
During her visit to the correctional facility on June 11, the minister told the inmates that Nigeria had not forgotten them despite their incarceration, emphasizing that the government would continue to protect the rights and dignity of its citizens abroad.
The visit followed the signing of a landmark Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia, a development expected to enable eligible Nigerian prisoners serving jail terms in Ethiopia to complete their sentences in Nigeria. The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Justice Minister, Hanna Arayaselassie.
Ethiopian authorities said about 98 Nigerian inmates, comprising 96 men and two women, could benefit from the arrangement. To qualify, inmates must consent to the transfer and have at least one year remaining on their prison terms. Most of the affected prisoners are currently held in Aba Samuel and Kaliti prisons.
Addressing the inmates, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement reflected Nigeria’s citizen-centred foreign policy and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She described the initiative as a humanitarian effort founded on justice, compassion and bilateral cooperation.
“This agreement is not a licence for impunity,” she warned, urging Nigerians living abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and avoid actions capable of damaging Nigeria’s reputation.
The minister disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the years of negotiations and legal processes that eventually led to the agreement. She encouraged the prisoners to embrace rehabilitation and prepare for productive lives after their return.
“I urge you not to travel these routes again. Think about your families, your future and your country. When you return home, chart a new course. The government is prepared to support you in building a better future,” she said.
Representing the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, Aminu Yusuf, assured the inmates that arrangements had already been made to receive them in Nigeria.
According to him, the returnees will first be processed at the Kuje Correctional Centre before being transferred to correctional facilities closer to their families in line with established procedures.
The announcement triggered emotional scenes among the inmates, many of whom sang, cheered and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the Foreign Affairs Minister and their legal representative, Abumchukwu Okoye, for facilitating the agreement.
Speaking on behalf of the prisoners, an inmates’ representative praised both governments for concluding the transfer arrangement and pledged that beneficiaries would become responsible citizens upon their return.
The prisoner transfer accord is being seen as a major diplomatic achievement and a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerians beyond the country’s borders.
