Italy Set to Repatriate 700 Nigerian Prisoners

Fulvius Rusticu

Italy and Nigeria are concluding negotiations on a Prisoners Transfer Agreement to facilitate the return of over 700 Nigerian prisoners serving in various prisons across Italy.
 Fulvius Rusticu, Italian ambassador to Nigeria, made the announcement today in Abuja, Punch reports.
Under the agreement, Nigerian prisoners who qualify for the transfer must return home to complete their prison terms.
“…the logic in signing a PTA is that we think that it is better for Nigerians and even Italians to serve their terms at home. Already to be in prisons is not a nice experience, being abroad is even worse, so given the prisoner the chance to return home is in their own interest.
It is very rare for a prisoner to want to stay in a foreign country, we have cases of Italians serving in prisons abroad and they look forward, and are happy to return home,”  Rusticu said.