The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said the news of the conclusion of the prisoner exchange between Nigeria and Ethiopia is refreshing.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obi commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and their Ethiopian counterparts for finally concluding the protracted negotiations.

He, however, lamented that at least four Nigerian citizens lost their lives in custody while the diplomatic and administrative process dragged on over the past few years.

“My heart goes out to their families, who had to endure the ultimate pain of losing loved ones in a foreign land,” Obi said.

“While we commend this humanitarian intervention, it serves as a reminder of a larger systemic crisis. The overwhelming majority of these citizens are young Nigerians. A significant number were arrested while transiting through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport in search of green pastures. While we must continuously urge our citizens to remain law-abiding and respect the laws of host nations wherever they travel or reside, we must also ask ourselves a hard question: What drives our young and productive population into desperate circumstances across the globe?”

According to Obi, until we build a new Nigeria that offers genuine economic opportunities, a functional educational framework, and an environment where hard work is rewarded, we will continue to grapple with the tragic consequences of mass emigration and its associated vulnerabilities.

He called for proper management of correctional facilities in Nigeria with a focus on genuine rehabilitation and societal reintegration.

“Let us use this moment not just for short-term relief, but as an urgent call to build a nation that protects, values, and empowers its citizens here at home,” he said.