Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has visited Nigerian inmates held at Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia, assuring them that President Bola Tinubu is aware of their situation and that the country has not forgotten them.
The visit took place during a Nigerian government delegation’s recent trip to Addis Ababa.
“Your country will not desert you… your President knows you are here,” the Minister told the inmates.
The visit comes days after Nigeria and Ethiopia signed a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement, which paves the way for Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia to be returned home to complete their sentences.
However, the Minister revealed that four Nigerian prisoners died during the negotiation, vetting, and finalisation process leading up to the agreement.
She described the deal as one rooted in humanity, justice, and cooperation between both nations, and thanked the Ethiopian government and people for their support.
Delivering President Tinubu’s message, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remains a top priority for the administration. She added that Nigerians living abroad also have a duty to obey the laws of their host countries.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring citizens who run afoul of the law overseas are not left stranded and are given their rights under applicable legal frameworks. She, however, warned that this assurance is not a cover for criminal behaviour, urging Nigerians abroad to steer clear of illegal activity.
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