The Federal Government has said that no fewer than 9,500 Nigerians are languishing in jails in different foreign countries with United Kingdom prisons alone holding 752 Nigerians.
The government said most of the remaining prisoners were concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, stated this while briefing members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party on the achievements of his ministry in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister said it had been difficult to monitor when the prisoners completed serving their jail terms, as majority of them prefer to sneak back into the country.
Ashiru said, "One of the major challenges facing Nigeria's foreign policy is the plight of Nigerians in various prisons abroad.
"There are currently over 9,500 Nigerians in prisons abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK.
"Most of the remaining prisoners are concentrated in the Asia- Pacific region. A good number of them are on death row.
"We are concluding Prisoners' Transfer Agreement with all those counties, such as United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Switzerland, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Hong Kong, so that we can bring home the prisoners to complete their prison terms."
The minister said the prisoners would however be required to agree to return to Nigeria to complete their jail terms.
He said, "When they even complete their jail terms, they sneaked into the country because they don't want their families to know because of the stigma associated with prison."
He appealed to the media, members of civil societies, religious groups, and traditional rulers to join hands in the education of the youth in an enlightenment against trafficking in drugs and other social vices.
The minister said this assignment should not be left to the government alone, adding that government would not allow any of its citizens to be treated like animals, be it in foreign embassies in Nigeria or outside the country.
He said the waiting periods for the issuance of visas had been considerably reduced by many of the missions.
"We will however continue to engage the Diplomatic Corps on this issue until we are completely satisfied with the quality of services rendered to Nigerians," the minister added.
On the demand for the payment of £3,000 bond by those travelling to the UK as tourists, Ashiru said Nigeria would retaliate if the UK government proceeded with the policy.
He, however, refused to give details of the expected retaliation.
The Punch