Nigerians serving prison sentences at AbaSamuel Prison in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu after Nigeria and Ethiopia concluded a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement.
In a video shared on Saturday by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, the inmates were seen jubilating and thanking the President for the arrangement, which will allow qualified prisoners to return home and complete their sentences in Nigeria.
Posting the video on her X account, Ojukwu wrote:
“Thank you, Mr President!
“Nigeria immates in AbaSamuel Prisons, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia express their joy and Appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the successful conclusion of the bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.”
The agreement, signed earlier this week, will enable convicted citizens of both Nigeria and Ethiopia to be transferred to their home countries to serve the remainder of their prison terms, provided they meet the conditions outlined by both governments.
The Federal Government previously disclosed that over 100 Nigerians are currently incarcerated in Ethiopia and could benefit from the new arrangement.
The deal was brokered through the efforts of Bianca Ojukwu and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as part of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians living and serving sentences abroad.
