By Ahmed Idris
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday ratified a prisoners swap deal for the repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in China to serve out their jail terms at home.
Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in Abuja, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said Nigerian prisoners to be affected are those jailed in Macau, an autonomous region in the south coast of China.
He said the deal would be effective if ratified by the Chinese authorities, adding that there is plan to sign similar deals with other countries.
The minister told journalists that the council also approved a new action plan on Anti-money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism.
He said the plan was worked out after Nigeria’s recent suspension from Egmont Group, stressing that the plan encompasses new and more effective measures to combat as agreed by stakeholders dealing with money laundering and anti-terrorism.
Also speaking, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, said the council approved N72.9 billion for the reconstruction of Creek Road to Tin Can Island through Apapa and Oworonsoki roads to Toll Gate end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He said the project, which excludes the Coconut and Mile II sections of the road, is to be handled by the Dangote Group on a Public-Private Partnership.
He said the Dangote Group would recover its funds for the project through government tax credit policy.
He said the road spans about 27 kilometres across 10 lanes, totalling 270.8 kilometres, and is expected to be completed in two years.
