By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja
Hope and excitement filled the air at Ethiopia’s Aba Samuel Prison as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, delivered a reassuring message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerian inmates serving various jail terms in the East African nation.
Speaking during a visit to the correctional facility on June 11, 2026, the minister conveyed President Tinubu’s assurance that Nigeria had not abandoned its citizens despite their circumstances, declaring that the country remained committed to their welfare and eventual reintegration into society.
The visit came barely a day after Nigeria and Ethiopia signed a landmark Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, a diplomatic breakthrough that will allow eligible Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia to complete their jail terms back home. The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Arayaselassie, with the support of the foreign affairs ministries of both countries.
According to Ethiopian authorities, approximately 98 Nigerian inmates—96 men and two women—stand to benefit from the arrangement. Beneficiaries must consent to the transfer and have at least one year remaining on their prison sentences. Most of the affected inmates are currently held in Aba Samuel and Kaliti Prisons.
Addressing the inmates, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the agreement was inspired by the citizen-centred diplomacy component of Nigeria’s 4-D Foreign Policy framework—Diplomacy, Democracy, Development and Demography—under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She described the agreement as a humanitarian initiative rooted in justice, compassion and cooperation between both nations. The minister disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the lengthy period of negotiations, legal processes and diplomatic engagements that eventually culminated in the signing of the accord.
While reassuring the inmates of the government’s concern for their welfare, dignity and legal rights, she urged Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and avoid actions capable of tarnishing the image of the nation.
“This agreement is not a licence for impunity,” she cautioned, stressing that Nigerians must remain law-abiding wherever they reside.
The minister also called on the inmates to cooperate fully with prison authorities by completing the necessary consent and documentation processes required for their transfer to Nigeria.
Encouraging them to embrace personal rehabilitation and self-improvement, she said the Federal Government remained committed to providing opportunities for skills acquisition, capacity building and other programmes that would enable them rebuild their lives upon 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 told the inmates.
Representing the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, Aminu Yusuf, assured the prisoners that arrangements were already in place to receive them in Nigeria.
He explained that the returnees would initially be processed at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja before being transferred to facilities closer to their families, in line with existing correctional procedures and the discretion of the Controller-General.
The announcement sparked scenes of jubilation among the inmates, many of whom openly expressed their emotions. They sang and cheered in appreciation of President Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and their legal representative, Barrister Abumchukwu Okoye, for their efforts in securing the agreement.
Speaking on behalf of the inmates, their spokesperson commended both governments for concluding the prisoner transfer arrangement and pledged that the beneficiaries would conduct themselves responsibly and become better citizens upon their eventual return to Nigeria.
The prisoner transfer agreement marks a significant diplomatic achievement and underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to citizen welfare, even beyond the country’s borders.