FG okays prisoner-swap deal with China

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified a prisoner-swap deal with China to facilitate the repatriation of Nigerians serving jail terms in the Asian nation to complete their sentences at home.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, made the disclosure after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.He explained that Nigerian prisoners to be affected for now were those imprisoned in Macau, an autonomous region, in the south coast of China.

The minister said for the deal to be effective, it would require ratification by the Chinese authorities while also disclosing of plans to sign similar treaties with other countries.Malami noted that council equally approved an Action Plan on Anti-money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism.

This, according to him, followed the nation’s recent suspension from Egmont Group. He submitted that the proposed framework would showcase new and more effective measures to combat the vices.

Also yesterday, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said council sanctioned a N72. 9 billion contract for the reconstruction of Creek Road to Tin Can Island through Apapa and Oworonsoki axis to the Toll Gate end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The project, which excludes the Coconut and Mile 2 sections of the highway, is to be handled by the Dangote Group on a public-private partnership arrangement. The partner is to recoup its investment via government’s tax credit policy.The stretch of the road, which spans through 27 kilometres across 10 lanes (270.8 kilometres), is to be completed in two years.