‎BY AHMED AKANBI

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‎President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the Senate for consideration.

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‎The President forwarded the bill to Senate President Godswill Akpabio pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, urging expeditious passage.

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‎The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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‎According to Tinubu, the amendment is needed to give effect to agreements Nigeria enters into with other countries on the transfer of convicted offenders.

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‎A key objective of the bill is to allow implementation of prisoner-transfer deals with countries outside the Commonwealth.

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‎Under the proposal, the President would be empowered to extend the application of the Act to any country with which Nigeria has a transfer agreement through an order published in the Federal Gazette.

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‎Tinubu said the amendment would strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for international cooperation on justice and corrections.

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‎”While it is my hope that the Senate will consider this submission expeditiously, please accept, distinguished Senate President and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest consideration,” he wrote.