President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to amend Nigeria’s prisoner transfer law to allow convicted offenders to serve their sentences in their home countries, including nations outside the Commonwealth.

The request is contained in the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, transmitted to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for consideration.

Tinubu submitted the bill pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution and urged lawmakers to consider it expeditiously.

The proposed amendment seeks to revise the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which currently focuses mainly on Commonwealth countries.

Under the proposed changes, the President would be empowered to extend the law to any country with which Nigeria has a prisoner-transfer agreement, through an order published in the Federal Gazette.

If passed, the amendment would provide a legal framework for Nigerians convicted abroad to serve their sentences at home, while foreign nationals convicted in Nigeria could be transferred to their home countries.

In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu expressed hope that lawmakers would give the bill prompt consideration.

Akpabio referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance for further consideration, directing it to report back within one week.