Finland considers transferring Nigerian prisoners to serve sentences in Nigeria

Finland considers transferring Nigerian prisoners to serve sentences in Nigeria Finland is examining ways to ease prison overcrowding by sen...

Finland considers transferring Nigerian prisoners to serve sentences in Nigeria

Finland is examining ways to ease prison overcrowding by sending more foreign inmates to serve sentences in their countries of origin and by speeding up crime-based removals. Nigerian nationals are among the largest foreign groups in Finnish prisons and would fall within the scope of any expanded transfer policy. No country-specific deal with Nigeria has been announced.

Finnish prisons hold about 3,900 inmates, of whom roughly 950 are foreign nationals. The number of foreign prisoners has risen 76 percent in ten years and accounts for about four-fifths of the overall increase in the prison population. Among sentenced foreign inmates, the main offences are drug crimes (49 percent), sexual offences (21 percent) and homicide (10 percent).

The ten largest foreign-nationality groups last year were Estonia, Iraq, Sweden, Lithuania, Romania, Albania, Latvia, Gambia, Nigeria and Somalia.

On 17 September 2026 the Ministry of Justice published a study on renting prison places abroad, citing Sweden’s arrangement with Estonia as a possible model. Justice Minister Leena Meri said no destination country has been chosen and no formal talks have begun. The study also flagged constitutional questions that require further work.

In parallel, the government intends to increase transfers of foreign prisoners to their home countries and to make crime-based deportation more efficient. A government-funded study on how inmates with deportation orders can be moved out of Finland is due by the end of 2026. Finnish law already allows transfer of sentenced persons, including in some cases without consent where a deportation order has been issued.

Nigeria appears on the official list of the ten largest foreign prisoner groups. Finland has supported an EU–Nigeria readmission agreement but does not have a bilateral prisoner-transfer treaty comparable to arrangements discussed with European partners. Any return of Nigerian inmates would depend on legal eligibility, remaining sentence length, and Nigeria’s willingness to receive them.

The measures remain under consideration. Domestic capacity is also being expanded, with modular units expected next year and a new wing at Turku prison by 2028. Final decisions on foreign transfers have not been taken.

Family Writers Press International