Federal Government to Provide Reintegration Support for Nigerians Repatriated from Ethiopian Prisons

Nigeria to Provide Reintegration for 94 Repatriated Prisoners from Ethiopia

Global • Sat Jun 13 2026 • By Starkid

ABUJA — The Nigerian government has announced a comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration plan for 94 Nigerians currently serving sentences in Ethiopian prisons, following the formalization of a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement between the two nations.

Commitment to Rehabilitation

In a statement released on Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of these citizens. During a recent visit to Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia, the Minister pledged that the government would provide technical training, capacity-building programs, and pathways to legitimate employment for the inmates upon their return to Nigeria.

"The government remains committed to providing avenues for technical training, for capacity building, and for other pathways that will enhance your skills and provide better opportunities for a legitimate living," the Minister stated. She further urged the inmates to use the transition as an opportunity to renounce the activities that led to their incarceration and to embrace a new, law-abiding chapter in their lives.

Transfer Logistics and Eligibility

The agreement, which covers approximately 98 Nigerian inmates in Ethiopia, includes specific criteria for repatriation. To qualify, inmates must:

Provide formal consent for the transfer.
Have a minimum of one year remaining on their sentences.

Currently, 94 individuals have been identified as immediately eligible for the transfer.

Logistics for Reception and Relocation

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed it is fully prepared to handle the logistics of the repatriation. Assistant Controller General Aminu Yusuf, representing the Controller General, outlined the process:

Initial Reception: Repatriated inmates will first be received at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja for formal documentation.
Relocation: Following initial processing, the Controller General of the NCoS is empowered to relocate inmates to correctional facilities closer to their families to facilitate better support and social reintegration.

Prisoner representatives expressed gratitude to both the Nigerian and Ethiopian governments for the agreement, pledging full cooperation with the documentation process and a commitment to responsible conduct upon their return.