Tinubu Moves to Repatriate Nearly 300 Nigerians Imprisoned in Ethiopia

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated a major diplomatic effort aimed at bringing home nearly 300 Nigerian citizens currently serving prison sentences in Ethiopia, signaling a renewed commitment to addressing the welfare of Nigerians detained abroad.

According to sources within the Presidency and Nigeria’s foreign service, the President has directed a high-level delegation to travel to Addis Ababa to negotiate the immediate transfer of the inmates back to Nigeria. The delegation includes Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Lateef Fagbemi, who have been tasked with finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian government.

The proposed agreement would allow the affected Nigerians to be repatriated and complete the remainder of their prison terms in Nigerian correctional facilities rather than remaining in Ethiopia.

Sources familiar with the mission revealed that the directive came directly from President Tinubu, who reportedly instructed officials to move swiftly in securing the agreement. The urgency surrounding the initiative is said to be linked to growing concerns about the condition of the inmates and the environment in which many of them are being held.

Most of the Nigerian prisoners are reportedly incarcerated at Kaliti Prison, a facility that has attracted criticism from advocacy groups over alleged overcrowding, poor living conditions, inadequate medical care, and other humanitarian concerns.

Officials involved in the process disclosed that the physical wellbeing of many inmates has deteriorated significantly in recent years, prompting renewed efforts to secure their transfer. Reports suggest that some prisoners have faced severe health challenges, while others have allegedly struggled with limited access to medical treatment and basic necessities.

The move represents the most direct intervention by President Tinubu in a matter that has been the subject of diplomatic discussions for several years. Previous efforts by Nigerian authorities and advocacy groups had sought a formal prisoner transfer arrangement between both countries, but progress remained limited.

Official figures from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that more than 270 Nigerians are currently serving sentences in Ethiopia, with a significant number convicted of drug-related offences. Their situation has remained a source of concern for families, rights advocates, and Nigerian officials who have consistently called for a humanitarian solution.

Public attention on the issue intensified following reports of deaths involving Nigerian inmates in Ethiopian custody. In March 2023, a Nigerian prisoner identified as Chizoba Favour Eze reportedly died after alleged mistreatment while in detention. Later that year, another inmate, Uchenna Nwanneneme, was reported to have died from tuberculosis after allegedly receiving inadequate medical attention.

Those incidents sparked fresh calls for action and increased pressure on Nigerian authorities to secure improved treatment and eventual transfer arrangements for affected citizens.

If successfully concluded, the proposed agreement would allow hundreds of Nigerian inmates to serve the remainder of their sentences closer to their families and within Nigeria’s correctional system. The development is also expected to strengthen diplomatic cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia while addressing long-standing humanitarian concerns surrounding the welfare of Nigerian prisoners abroad.

As negotiations continue in Addis Ababa, many families of the affected inmates remain hopeful that the initiative will finally bring relief after years of uncertainty and separation.