By Gloria Ikibah
President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to amend Nigeria’s law on the transfer of convicted offenders to enable the country to enter into and implement transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth. 
The proposed legislation, titled Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the existing Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter dated October 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, urging lawmakers to give the bill expeditious consideration.
The President said the amendment was intended to provide a legal framework for implementing schemes and agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and other countries for the transfer of convicted offenders.
Under the proposed amendment, the President will be empowered to extend the application of the Act to any country with which Nigeria has entered into a relevant agreement, through an order published in the Federal Gazette.
The proposed change will broaden the scope of the existing law, which provides for the transfer of convicted offenders, by enabling Nigeria to implement agreements with countries beyond the Commonwealth.
Transmitting the bill pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Tinubu formally requested the House’s consideration and approval of the proposed legislation.
“While it is my hope that the House of Representatives will consider this submission expeditiously, please accept, Rt. Hon. Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the President stated in the letter.
The bill is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.
The presidential communication did not identify the countries that could be covered by future agreements or provide details of the proposed implementation arrangements.
