Government Moves to Repatriate Nearly 300 Nigerians Serving Prison Sentences in Ethiopia
The Federal Government has initiated steps to secure the return of approximately 300 Nigerian citizens currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia, amid growing concerns over their health and detention conditions.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of a high-level delegation to Addis Ababa to negotiate a formal agreement with Ethiopian authorities that will allow the transfer of the inmates to Nigeria, where they would complete their sentences.
The delegation is expected to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding between both countries to facilitate the repatriation process. Officials say the move is driven by reports of worsening conditions in Ethiopian correctional facilities, particularly at the Kaliti maximum-security prison where many of the Nigerians are held.
Sources within government circles disclosed that the directive was issued as a matter of urgency due to concerns over overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and declining welfare standards among foreign inmates.
Figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that more than 270 Nigerians are currently incarcerated in Ethiopia, with a majority convicted on drug-related charges. Many of them are said to be held at Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa.
The situation has previously attracted diplomatic discussions and legal interventions, including court orders and bilateral engagements aimed at establishing a prisoner transfer arrangement between both countries.
Despite earlier efforts, a formal agreement has yet to be fully implemented, prompting renewed action by the Nigerian government.
Advocacy groups and affected families have continued to call for urgent intervention, citing reports of deaths and deteriorating conditions within the prison system.
Government officials expressed optimism that ongoing diplomatic engagement will lead to a swift conclusion of the agreement and the eventual transfer of the inmates to Nigeria.
