On the repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in China…

In a move that is sure to receive wide acclaim, federal government has ratified a prisoner’s swap deal to enable Nigerian prisoners in China to serve out their jail terms at home.
Speaking in Abuja, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, said Nigerian prisoners to be affected are those jailed in Macau, an autonomous region in the south coast of China.
He said the deal would be effective if ratified by the Chinese authorities, adding that there is plan to sign similar deals with other countries.
The International Transfer of Prisoners (ITP) scheme allows prisoners serving a sentence of imprisonment in a foreign country to apply to transfer to their home country to serve the remainder of their sentence.
The scheme aims to promote the successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the prisoner, while preserving the sentence imposed by the sentencing country as far as possible.
The scheme contributes to community safety by ensuring that prisoners’ convictions are recorded in their home country and that their reintegration into that country’s community is able to be appropriately supported, monitored and supervised.
Transfers under the scheme are not intended to provide a more lenient or convenient alternative for prisoners.
Of course, transfers are not automatic and require the consent of countries involved to take place.
The scheme aims to mprove prisoners’ prospects for rehabilitation by removing language and cultural barriers, allowing access to custodial programmes and facilitating contact with family and social support networks.
It also helps to promote reintegration into society immediately upon release from prison and protects the community through the effective management and monitoring of prisoners transferred to their home country.
Thankfully, if implemented, this scheme will reduce the costs of providing consular services to Nigerians serving sentences in Macau and elsewhere.
Above all, this form of arrangement will, as it affects citizens of other countries implementing it, inspire confidence of Nigerians in their government, believing that no matter the situation they found themselves in, their government will stand by them.
And, with this, there cannot be a better way of building a country, making citizens responsible to and be proud of their government.