President Bola Tinubu has directed urgent diplomatic efforts to secure the transfer of hundreds of Nigerians serving prison sentences in Ethiopia back to the country, following reports of worsening conditions and deaths among inmates in custody.
The planned intervention will involve a high-level Nigerian delegation travelling to Addis Ababa to finalise an agreement with Ethiopian authorities that would allow the prisoners to complete their sentences in Nigeria.
The delegation is expected to include senior officials such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Presidency sources said the President has instructed the team to fast-track a Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopian authorities to enable the transfer process.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of Nigerians held at Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa, where many inmates are serving sentences linked to drug-related offences.
Government insiders said the intervention was triggered by reports of poor living conditions and inadequate access to medical care within the facility, as well as the deaths of some Nigerian inmates.
It was gathered that nearly 300 Nigerians are currently held in Ethiopian prisons, with many convicted over narcotics-related offences. Families and advocacy groups have repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, poor feeding, and limited healthcare services.
The issue has remained a long-standing diplomatic challenge between both countries, with negotiations ongoing for several years over a possible prisoner transfer agreement.
The campaign for repatriation intensified following reports of inmate deaths, prompting renewed calls from families and civil society organisations for the Federal Government to intervene and allow convicts to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had previously directed relevant authorities to facilitate the return of the inmates after concerns were raised about their welfare.
Although Nigerian officials have held several rounds of discussions with Ethiopian counterparts, implementation has been delayed as both sides continued negotiations over procedural requirements.
The latest directive from President Tinubu is seen as the most decisive step yet toward resolving the matter.
If concluded, the agreement will allow the affected Nigerians to be transferred to correctional facilities in Nigeria under established international prisoner exchange arrangements, which many countries use to support rehabilitation and family contact for convicts serving foreign sentences.
