The Nigerian government plans to initiate a prisoner transfer agreement with Tanzania to facilitate the return of more than 30 Nigerian nationals currently incarcerated there. Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed this strategy while addressing inquiries regarding the status of these detainees.
Currently, no formal legal framework exists to support the repatriation of these prisoners. However, the newly appointed Nigerian High Commissioner to Tanzania intends to prioritize this issue during discussions with Tanzanian officials following the formal presentation of her credentials. Ebienfa emphasized that any such arrangement requires mutual consent and the establishment of specific implementation protocols before convicted individuals can be moved to Nigeria to finish their sentences.
Official records indicate that Nigerians in the Tanzanian justice system are classified into three groups: those convicted, those awaiting trial, and those recently arrested, primarily for issues involving immigration or narcotics violations.
