Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a landmark prisoner transfer agreement that will allow convicted citizens of either country to serve their remaining prison terms in their home nation.

The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Lateef Fagbemi and Hanna Arayaselassie, with senior government officials from both countries present.

The agreement was facilitated through diplomatic efforts led by Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Gideon Timothewos.

Under the arrangement, eligible prisoners may be transferred to their country of nationality to complete their sentences, subject to legal requirements and mutual approval by both governments.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the pact as a humanitarian step that recognises the importance of family support, language, culture and social ties in the rehabilitation of offenders. She stressed that modern correctional systems should focus not only on punishment but also on successful reintegration into society.

The minister also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while urging Nigerians living overseas to respect the laws of their host countries.

A major concern highlighted during the event was the welfare of Nigerians currently incarcerated in Ethiopia. According to the minister, more than 100 Nigerians, including four women, are serving prison terms in Ethiopian facilities. She disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died while negotiations and legal processes surrounding the agreement were ongoing.

“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she said.

As part of her visit, Odumegwu-Ojukwu is expected to inspect prisons housing Nigerian inmates, including facilities at Kaliti and Aba Samuel.

For Ethiopia, the agreement represents another step in strengthening a relationship with Nigeria that spans more than six decades. Timothewos described the deal as a milestone in bilateral relations and called for deeper cooperation on trade, aviation, security, migration management and regional peace efforts.

The agreement is expected to ease humanitarian concerns surrounding foreign prisoners, improve rehabilitation outcomes and further strengthen diplomatic and judicial cooperation between both countries.