The federal government has urged Ethiopia to fast-track the signing of a long-pending Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Exchange of Sentenced Persons, as concerns mount over the welfare of Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call during a meeting with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Geremew Haile, at her office in Abuja.
The minister expressed displeasure over the continued harassment of Nigerians, including those with official and diplomatic passports, at Addis Ababa, the Ethopian capital.
She lamented the poor prison conditions, lack of medical access for inmates, and the recent death of a Nigerian in custody.
“Our people don’t want to hear that another Nigerian inmate died in Ethiopian prison,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad
She also criticised Ethiopia for failing to refund seized funds belonging to Nigerian travellers, despite a 2022 amnesty declaration by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The minster lamented that of the 25 Nigerians affected, only two have been refunded, including Mr. Francis Uzoh whose $70,000 remains unrecovered leaving him destitute.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged that Mr. Uzoh’s money be refunded immediately, saying, “so they don’t use the money to bury him when he has gone.”
On visa issues, the minister accused Ethiopia of unilaterally suspending a diplomatic visa waiver tied to their Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which affects Nigerians transiting through Addis Ababa.
Responding the Ambassador Haile clarified that visa waivers for diplomatic passports remained valid but it was awaiting legislative ratification in Ethiopia.
He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s strategic partnership with Nigeria and thanked the government for granting seven additional flight slots to Ethiopian Airlines on the Lagos route.
Despite the tensions, both sides pledged to strengthen bilateral ties ahead of the upcoming Nigeria-Ethiopia Joint Commission session in Abuja.