Bianca Ojukwu
Nigeria has facilitated the safe and dignified return of Sierra Leone’s former President Ernest Koroma to Freetown, marking the conclusion of his two-year temporary relocation in Nigeria.
The development was confirmed in a statement by Dr. Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
According to the statement, Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu accompanied former President Koroma back to Sierra Leone under the explicit directive of President Bola Tinubu.
Koroma’s initial relocation to Nigeria in January 2024 was orchestrated under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The initiative aimed to foster peace, political stability, and mutual understanding in Sierra Leone following a period of heightened domestic political tension.
Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that sustained diplomatic engagements between ECOWAS leadership, the Nigerian government, and key regional stakeholders successfully de-escalated tensions and laid the groundwork for his return.
She noted that the process helped establish a constructive dialogic environment between Sierra Leone’s current President, Julius Maada Bio, and his predecessor.
“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated, praising Koroma’s composure during his period in Nigeria.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined the high-level delegation accompanying Koroma back to Freetown, underscoring the regional weight supporting the diplomatic mission.
Expressing gratitude to President Bio, former President Koroma, and the citizens of Sierra Leone for their cooperation, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to constitutional order, regional harmony, and democratic stability across West Africa.
She expressed optimism that Koroma’s return would consolidate national reconciliation and reinforce long-term peace in Sierra Leone.
