Obi Hails Nigeria–Ethiopia Prisoner Transfer Deal, Warns of Hidden Human Cost Behind Migration

(Peter Obi. Photo by Channels Tv)

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the completion of a prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia, describing it as a humanitarian gesture that safeguards the dignity and rights of Nigerian citizens abroad.

Reacting to the development in a social media post on Monday, Obi commended the collaborative efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as Ethiopian authorities, for successfully concluding the process that enabled the transfer of the affected inmates.

He said the arrangement reflects governments’ responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of their citizens wherever they may be.

While commending the outcome of the negotiations, Obi expressed sadness over reports that at least four Nigerians died in custody before the transfer could be completed, noting that the deaths underscore the human cost of prolonged diplomatic and administrative processes, as well as the grief endured by families who lost loved ones far from home.

The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians to look beyond the immediate circumstances of the prisoner exchange and reflect on the underlying factors that drove many of those involved to leave the country in the first place.

He pointed out that a significant number of the affected individuals were young Nigerians who had travelled abroad in search of better opportunities, many of whom were reportedly apprehended while transiting through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

He said this should prompt deeper reflection on the country’s socio-economic conditions.

While stressing the importance of Nigerians abiding by the laws of host countries, Obi questioned the conditions that continue to push many young, productive Nigerians into difficult and desperate circumstances abroad.

He argued that job creation, improved access to quality education, and a system that rewards hard work are essential to tackling the root causes of migration and reducing the risks associated with it.

Obi also called for proper handling of the returning inmates as they continue serving their sentences in Nigeria, stressing the importance of effective rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

He said the prisoner transfer should be seen not only as a humanitarian intervention but also as a call to build a nation that protects, values, and empowers its citizens.

The Federal Government had recently announced the prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia, under which more than 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in the East African country are to be transferred back to Nigeria.