The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has hailed the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ethiopian authorities for successfully finalizing a Prisoner Transfer Agreement, which allows detained Nigerian citizens to return home to complete their custodial sentences.
While praising the diplomatic breakthrough as a vital humanitarian intervention, he strongly lamented that four Nigerian citizens died in custody while the legal and administrative negotiations dragged on over the last few years.
The former Anambra State Governor gave the reaction in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday.
He praised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Ethiopian authorities for bringing the protracted negotiations to a successful conclusion.
According to him, the exchange underscores the importance of protecting the dignity and rights of Nigerian citizens, regardless of their location or circumstances.
Obi, however, expressed sadness over reports that at least four Nigerians died in Ethiopian custody while the negotiations were ongoing, extending his condolences to their families.
According to him, the deaths highlight the human cost of prolonged negotiations and the pain endured by families who lost loved ones in a foreign country.
Obi urged Nigerians to reflect on the broader issues underlying the situation, noting that many of those affected were young citizens who had left the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
While stressing the need for Nigerians to obey the laws of host countries, he questioned the socio-economic conditions that continue to push many young people to seek opportunities outside the country under difficult circumstances.
He argued that Nigeria must create an environment that offers economic opportunities, quality education and rewards hard work in order to address the root causes of mass migration and its associated risks.
Obi also called for proper management of correctional facilities as the transferred prisoners return to Nigeria to serve out their sentences, emphasizing the need for rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
He said the prisoner exchange should serve not only as a humanitarian intervention but also as a reminder of the need to build a country that protects, values and empowers its citizens.
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