The Federal Government is working to free some Nigerians who are in prison in Ethiopia. They are asking the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to quickly finalize the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on exchanging sentenced individuals between the two nations.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated the country’s position at a meeting in Abuja with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Geremew Haile.
The minister while expressing the Federal Government’s displeasure over the spate of embarrassment and harassment suffered by Nigerians including those with Official and Diplomatic Passports in Addis Ababa,
reminded the Ethiopian Ambassador that the Nigeria side had concluded with reflection of the Ethiopian observations in the draft MOU on Exchange of Sentenced Persons between both countries and wondered why signing of the MOU was being delayed despite assurances at their meeting of March 6, 2025.
The minister highlighted with deep concern the plight of Nigerian inmates in Ethiopia who she said were not having access to medical care among other challenges. She also noted the overwhelming challenges this posed to the Ethiopian Government.
She expressed dismay that a Nigerian recently died in Ethiopian prison, and declared that as a government deeply committed to citizen diplomacy, the federal government would not want a repeat of such ugly incident.
She said: “Our people don’t want to hear that another Nigerian inmate died in Ethiopian prison.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed frustration about the ongoing delay in returning money that the Ethiopian Government took from Nigerian businessmen. This situation persists even after Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, announced at the 40th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in February 2022 that all African travelers whose money was seized at Bole International Airport would receive amnesty. The seizures occurred because they did not declare amounts over three thousand US dollars, as required by the Ethiopian law at that time.
She regretted that of the 25 Nigeria who moneys were seized as at that time, only 15 as been approved of funds, due to conditions put on the Ethiopians side for the refund which just two person had been able to
The minister cited the pathetic case of one Mr. Francis Chukwuma Uzoh whose US$70,000 was seized by the Ethiopian authorities. She bemoaned that despite meeting all the conditions, Francis was yet to be refunded since 2022.
She noted that Mr. Francis has become desolate, homeless, abandoned by family, hugely indebted and a shadow of his former self.
The minister mentioned the unfortunate situation of Mr. Francis Chukwuma Uzoh, who had his US$70,000 taken by the Ethiopian government. She expressed her disappointment that, even though Francis met all the requirements, he still hasn’t received his money back since 2022.
She recalled that visa waiver for holders of Official and Diplomatic Passports was tied to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed by the two countries.
She decried that going by what Nigerians faced at Addis Ababa, it seems that Ethiopia of unilaterally withdrawing from the MoU without notifying Nigeria.
According to her, it is of great concern because Addis is a hub and many Nigerians have adopted Ethiopian Airline as the airline of choice.
However, she reiterated the nation’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia, assuring that the 4th Session of Nigeria-Ethiopia Joint Commission would soon hold in Abuja.
Responding, the Ethiopian Ambassador, said that the visa waiver agreement was still in place but needed ratification by the country’s House of Representatives.
Haile mentioned that the Embassy has given visas to Nigerians who hold official and diplomatic passports. He noted that the real issue arises when someone applies with a regular passport.
He also thanked the Nigerian Government for the additional seven slots recently approved for the Ethiopian Airline on the Lagos route.
