The Federal Government has announced that it will take decisive action against rapists henceforth, describing the upsurge as embarrassing.

This is even as it has decided to push for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA), 2015 in states in order to ensure rapists face deserved punishments for their actions.

Federal Executive Council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari took the decision following a memo presented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, following the outrage that has greeted high cases of rape and gender-based violence in the country, as a result of lockdown necessitated by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the fourth virtual meeting which lasted seven hours, Mrs.Tallen said members of the council were unanimous in their decision. 

Out of the 36 states of the federation, only nine states have domesticated the VAPPA law.

Council also approved more than N115.5 billion for various roads in some parts of the country.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who disclosed this to Journalists after the council meeting said the Ministry presented two memoranda for consideration and award of three roads, all of which were graciously approved.

 The contract awards approved by the council include the Jebi-Lamba-Bele Road in Adamawa State for N26.829 billion, Achingali-Udobi-Udona-Umuwana-Ubakala Road, including the bridge, across the Imo River in Imo State, for the sum of N11.540 billion, the Jarmai-Bashar-Zuruk-Karim Lamido Road, linking Plateau and Taraba States, in the sum of N77.279 billion.

Fashola said the projects are consistent with the ministerial responsibilities his ministry was mandated to execute under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the commitment to improving road transport infrastructure across Nigeria.

The minister of interior Rauf  Aregbesola and his police affairs counterpart, MUHAMMED Dingyadi also gave an account of their stewardship.

While Aregbesola said the ministry has constructed 3,000 high capacity Custodial Centres in three Geo-Political Zones in the country among other achievements, Dingyadi said the ministry had procured more security equipment for police operations.

Council also approved the sum of five billion Naira for the completion of the Zungeru-Wushishi water supply project in Niger State.