The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that four Nigerian prisoners died in Ethiopian correctional facilities while negotiations for a prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia were being finalised.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, revealed this in Addis Ababa ahead of the signing of a landmark Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement that will enable more than 100 Nigerians currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia to be transferred home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who arrived in the Ethiopian capital alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the deaths occurred during the lengthy process of negotiations, judicial scrutiny and ratification required to bring the agreement into effect.

According to the minister, the development underscored the urgency of concluding the pact and transferring the affected Nigerians back to their home country.

“Four Nigerian prisoners have died within the time frame it has taken for the negotiations, judicial vetting and this final ratification process. We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives.

We are determined to bring home the living,” she said.

The agreement, scheduled to be signed on Wednesday, is a bilateral arrangement between Nigeria and Ethiopia that will provide a legal framework for convicted citizens of either country to serve the remainder of their prison sentences in their home nation, subject to agreed conditions.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said more than 100 Nigerians are currently incarcerated in Ethiopian prisons, including the Kaliti and Aba Samuel correctional centres, and stand to benefit from the arrangement once implementation begins. She noted that the signing of the agreement reflects the commitment of both governments to humanitarian principles, justice and international cooperation, particularly in matters affecting the welfare of their citizens.

The minister disclosed that the Nigerian delegation was received on arrival in Addis Ababa by Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol ahead of the signing ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for their cooperation in bringing the agreement to fruition.

She said the Tinubu administration remains committed to protecting Nigerians abroad and ensuring that citizens facing legal challenges outside the country are treated in accordance with international standards and applicable legal frameworks.

“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for whom the welfare and protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remains a priority, I wish to convey our sincere appreciation to the Government and People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for this important milestone,” she said.

While reaffirming the government’s determination to support Nigerians overseas, the minister urged citizens travelling or residing abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and conduct themselves in ways that uphold the image and reputation of Nigeria.

She added that although Nigeria encourages strict compliance with local laws, the government also believes that citizens who find themselves in conflict with the law abroad deserve humane treatment and the protection of their legal rights.