Tinubu Proposes Bill for International Prisoner Transfers

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the Nigerian Senate for consideration. This bill seeks to amend Nigeria’s law regarding the transfer of convicted offenders, enabling the country to implement agreements with nations outside the Commonwealth.

The letter was presented during a Senate plenary session by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio. Tinubu urged for expedited consideration of the bill, which aims to strengthen the legal framework for transferring convicted persons between Nigeria and other countries.

The proposed amendment would empower the President to extend the Act's application to countries with which Nigeria has relevant agreements, published in the Federal Gazette. This legislation is intended to provide a legal basis for implementing prisoner-transfer arrangements, addressing legal and administrative challenges in transferring offenders.

The bill requires consideration by the National Assembly before it can become law, in accordance with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.