Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia celebrate Tinubu after transfer deal signed

A video showing Nigerian inmates in an Ethiopian prison celebrating President Bola Tinubu has gone viral — and it's not every day you see prisoners cheering for a politician.

In the clip, shared Saturday by Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, inmates at AbaSamuel Prison in Addis Ababa are seen thanking Tinubu after Nigeria and Ethiopia signed a Prisoner Transfer Agreement this week.

The deal allows convicted Nigerians and Ethiopians to be transferred to their home countries to complete their jail terms, subject to both countries' laws and agreed conditions.

The Federal Government says more than 100 Nigerians currently serving sentences in Ethiopia will benefit from the arrangement.

"Thank you, Mr President! Nigeria immates in AbaSamuel Prisons, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia express their joy and Appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the successful conclusion of the…" — Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu on X

Ojukwu, who helped facilitate the agreement alongside Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the deal was part of efforts to improve the welfare of Nigerians serving sentences abroad.

For the inmates, the transfer means they can serve the remainder of their prison terms closer to family and within Nigeria's legal system. It's a major change for people who may have been locked up far from home for years.

The agreement was signed by officials from both countries earlier this week. It covers convicted citizens of Nigeria and Ethiopia who meet eligibility criteria under applicable laws.

This isn't the first time Nigeria has pursued prisoner transfer agreements. The government has similar arrangements with other countries, though execution has often been slow. This deal appears to have been concluded relatively quickly, and the inmates' reaction suggests it's already seen as a victory.

For Tinubu, the video offers a rare moment of positive publicity on diaspora welfare — a subject that has often drawn criticism from Nigerians abroad who say the government doesn't do enough to protect them.

The next step is for Nigerian and Ethiopian authorities to identify eligible prisoners and begin the paperwork for transfers. No timeline has been announced.