Nigeria, France Sign $120 Million ICT Agreement, to Recieve $150million Abacha Loot

The Federal Government has signed an agreement work about €100 million with the government of France to boost the creative industry and investment in the information technology sector of the economy.

The agreement was signed under the i-DICE programme of the Federal Government aimed at promoting investment in ICT.

The agreement was signed on Friday at the Headquarters Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Technology, Bosun Tijani for Nigeria, while the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs,  Ms Catherine Colonna signed for her country.

Also, the Ms Colonna announced that the French government will now return $150 million part of Abacha look that has been stuck in French banks for over two decades.

Earlier on Friday, Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale  in a statement had quoted President Bola Tinubu as saying thanking the French Government for the gesture.

“Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President had said according to Ngelale.

Confirming the preparedness of France to return the money to Nigeria, Ms Colonna said that, “It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice maybe  slow, but this is a very good achievement.”