Nigeria, Ethiopia sign deal to transfer over 100 jailed Nigerians home
Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed an agreement allowing the transfer of over 100 Nigerians currently serving jail sentences in Ethiopian prisons to facilities in Nigeria. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi completed the signing in Addis Ababa on Wednesday afternoon, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to repatriate nationals. The delegation had left Nigeria on Tuesday.
The deal addresses long-standing concerns about the welfare of Nigerians detained abroad. Reports describe overcrowded cells, inadequate medical care, poor food and sanitation, with four prisoners dying during the prolonged negotiations that stalled last October. A 2023 Senate inquiry had examined the cases of about 250 Nigerians incarcerated in Ethiopia, prompting renewed push for their return.
While the agreement opens a pathway home, specifics on when the transfers will begin or how many will be moved immediately remain unclear. The government says it cannot afford to lose "any more precious lives" and frames the pact as rooted in humanity, justice and cooperation. Will this arrangement speed up the return of those still detained and ensure better oversight of Nigerians imprisoned overseas, or will bureaucratic delays continue to put lives at risk?