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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have signed a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) for persons who have been sentenced.
This comes as Nigeria and Ethiopia agreed to begin the immediate implementation of the bilateral instrument in accordance with their respective laws and international obligations.
The agreement, according to a post on X by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, will lead to the transfer of over 100 Nigerians from Ethiopian prisons back to their home country.
The media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, said Odumegwu-Ojukwu and her Ethiopian counterpart, Gideon Timothewos, facilitated the diplomatic milestone, which was consummated at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa.
“The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, signed for Nigeria, while the Justice Minister of Ethiopia, Ms Hanna Arayaselassie, signed for her country.
“The Ambassador of Nigeria to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Nasir Aminu, a representative of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Commissioner-General of the Ethiopian Federal Prison Commission, among others, witnessed the signing ceremony,” Eze said.
Eze also stated that Odumegwu-Ojukwu, while conveying the sincere appreciation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians, noted that the event was rooted in the principles of humanity, justice and international cooperation.
The minister 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 one’s 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.
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She urged Nigerians living and travelling abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the good name of the nation.
“Notwithstanding, she highlighted the commitment of the government to ensuring that those who found themselves in conflict with the law were treated with dignity and accorded their rights under applicable legal frameworks.
“The minister noted that the signing of the Agreement demonstrated the two countries’ collective resolve to strengthen consular cooperation and advance a more humane approach to the administration of justice,” Eze added.
Continuing, the minister said: “This Agreement is also a testament to the growing depth of cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia. Beyond consular affairs, our two countries continue to collaborate in the areas of trade and investment, aviation, security, migration management, regional peace and security, and the advancement of Africa’s collective interests within continental and multilateral institutions.”
She commended the officials, legal experts and technical teams from both sides whose dedication, professionalism and commitment made the agreement possible.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further reiterated Nigeria’s immense gratitude to the government of Ethiopia for its cooperation, friendship and unwavering commitment to strengthening their bilateral relations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu will on Thursday afternoon visit the Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Ethiopia, where over 100 Nigerian nationals are being incarcerated, four of whom are women.
Four Nigerian prisoners had died while the negotiations, judicial vetting and final ratification process were still ongoing.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” the minister stated.
On his part, Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gideon Timothewos, said the cordial bilateral relationship between both countries, dating back over six decades, should be consolidated through continuous coordination and consultation on common issues and interests.
