Ethiopia and Nigeria sign agreement to exchange prisoners
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, inked the document for Nigeria while the Justice Minister of Ethiopia, Ms Hanna Arayaselassie signed for her country.
Black News 
Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed an agreement which now allows the two countries to Transfer of Sentenced criminals.
The two countries have also agreed to commence immediate implementation of the bilateral instrument in accordance with their respective laws and international obligations.
The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and her Ethiopian counterpart, Gideon Timothewos, facilitated the new diplomatic milestone.
The signing ceremony was concluded at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along Menelik II Avenue in Addis Ababa City.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, inked the document for Nigeria while the Justice Minister of Ethiopia, Ms Hanna Arayaselassie signed for her country.
Ambassador Bianca conveyed the sincere appreciation of President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians.
She said the development was rooted in the principles of humanity, justice, and international cooperation and that by this legal framework, the sentenced persons who are nationals of either country may, subject to agreed conditions and applicable laws, be transferred home.
In other development, Nigeria has airlifted the first group of its citizens from the Republic of South Africa.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the first batch of Nigerian nationals that were to be evacuated from South Africa due to Xenophobic attacks departed from the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the returnees were expected to land at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on early hours of Thursday morning, June 11, 2026.
The evacuation operation was undertaken by Air Peace Airlines.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has fully funded the evacuation exercise; consequently, all affected Nigerians will be repatriated at no cost to them.
The Nigerian foreign Ministry assured the public that the Federal Government, through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, has put in place the necessary reception and support arrangements for the returnees.
Upon arrival, the evacuees will undergo documentation and profiling procedures and will receive the appropriate assistance and support before being reunited with their families.
