Addis Ababa, June 10, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia and Nigeria have signed an agreement on the exchange or transfer of sentenced persons, marking a significant step in strengthening legal cooperation as the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening longstanding bilateral relations.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hana Arayasellassie, and Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, on the sidelines of high-level bilateral talks held in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement is expected to enhance cooperation between the justice institutions of the two countries and establish an important legal framework for collaboration on the exchange or transfer of sentenced persons.
Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos held discussions with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, focusing on ways to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Gedion noted that Ethiopia and Nigeria have enjoyed longstanding diplomatic relations dating back to the 1960s. He underscored the importance of continued coordination and regular consultations to further reinforce the partnership between the two African countries.
For her part, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and expressed her country’s readiness to work closely with Ethiopia across a range of sectors.
The two sides expressed confidence that both the ministerial discussions and the signing of the agreement would further deepen the partnership and cooperation between Ethiopia and Nigeria.