Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a landmark agreement that will allow convicted citizens of either country to serve the remainder of their prison sentences in their home nation, marking a significant step in bilateral cooperation and humanitarian justice.
The agreement, known as the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, was signed at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and Ethiopia’s Justice Minister, Hanna Arayaselassie, in the presence of senior officials from both governments.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, described the agreement as a major milestone in relations between the two countries.
“Today, we signed a landmark agreement that will allow sentenced citizens of either country — Nigeria or Ethiopia — to return to their home nation to serve the remainder of their prison terms,” Tuggar said.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Gedion Timothewos, and I both acknowledge this as a major milestone, marking a major step in consular cooperation and humanitarian justice between our two nations.”
Tuggar commended the officials, experts and technical teams from both countries for their efforts in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.
“I wish to thank our ministry officials, experts and technical teams from both countries for their efforts towards the successful conclusion of the negotiations,” he said.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, highlighted the longstanding relationship between both countries and stressed the need for continued collaboration.
“Ethiopia and Nigeria enjoy longstanding bilateral ties dating back to the 1960s,” Timothewos said, underscoring the importance of continued coordination and consultation on issues of mutual interest to further strengthen relations between the two countries.
According to the ministers, the agreement reflects a shared commitment to justice and a more humane approach to correctional administration.
“This accord is a reflection of the shared commitment of our two nations to justice, and to a more humane approach to custodial administration,” Tuggar stated.
He noted that the arrangement recognizes the importance of family support, language, culture and social connections in the rehabilitation of offenders.
“This arrangement recognizes the critical role of family support, language, culture and social connections in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, thereby facilitating opportunities for reform and eventual reintegration into society,” he added.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister said the agreement aligns with the Federal Government’s citizen-centred foreign policy, which prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
“Citizen-centred diplomacy remains at the heart of our foreign policy. The welfare and protection of our citizens abroad remains a key pillar of our diplomatic engagement,” Tuggar said.
The agreement is expected to provide a legal framework for the transfer of convicted persons between Nigeria and Ethiopia, enabling them to serve their sentences closer to their families and support networks while promoting rehabilitation and reintegration.