FG DEFENDS NIGERIA–ETHIOPIA PRISONER TRANSFER DEAL, SAYS ONLY 98 INMATES COVERED NOT 136.(PHOTO).

FG Defends Nigeria–Ethiopia Prisoner Transfer Deal, Says Only 98 Inmates Covered Not 136

The Federal Government has defended its recent agreement with Ethiopia on the transfer of sentenced persons, explaining that the arrangement is intended to allow Nigerian inmates serving jail terms in the East African country to complete their sentences in Nigeria under more humane conditions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the agreement is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s citizen diplomacy policy, which prioritises the welfare of Nigerians abroad as a core element of the administration’s foreign policy.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that 136 Nigerians were imprisoned in Ethiopia, describing the figures and alleged offences as false and misleading.

She clarified that only 98 Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopian maximum-security facilities are covered under the transfer agreement.

According to her, negotiations for the deal spanned several years due to challenges in verifying the actual number of Nigerians held in prisons such as Kaliti and Aba Samuel. She noted that discrepancies in records and prison classifications contributed to the delay.

The minister further explained that many of the affected inmates had repeatedly appealed for repatriation, citing harsh living conditions, inadequate healthcare, poor feeding, limited access to legal representation, language barriers, and the absence of family visitation.

She disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the negotiation period, adding that the development underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu described many of the prisoners as young Nigerians who were victims of criminal syndicates or poor decisions, but maintained that they are still entitled to humane treatment regardless of their offences.

Addressing concerns over possible release upon return, she clarified that the memorandum of understanding strictly prohibits pardon or amnesty without the consent of Ethiopia, the sentencing country.

She also rejected attempts to frame the inmates along ethnic lines, stressing that criminality is not tied to any particular region or group.

“A lot of them are from the South-East. There are also those from the South-West and South-South. At the end of the day, crime has no ethnicity. All these people are Nigerian citizens in a foreign jail,” she said.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing similar agreements for Nigerians facing legal and humanitarian challenges abroad, noting that citizen protection remains a key pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the Renewed Hope administration.