Nigeria welcomes British aid for prisons

ABUJA, Nigeria, July 9 (UPI) -- The Nigerian government says it is pleased with a British plan to help improve the conditions in the West African country's prisons.

The BBC said Thursday the British plan to improve conditions in Nigerian prisons is intended to allow for the transfer of Nigerians from jails in Britain to their homeland.

"We believe that prisoners should normally serve their sentences in their own country -- freeing up prison spaces and saving the taxpayer money on enforced removals," the British Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

The more than 800 Nigerians currently imprisoned in Britain could potentially attempt to block a transfer to Nigerian prisons by alleging the sites' questionable conditions would violate their human rights.

The plan to improve those prisons has been applauded by both rights groups and Nigerian Director of Public Prosecution Salihu Aliyu, who urged other countries to follow suit.

"It should be encouraged not only between Nigeria and UK but with other countries," Aliyu told the BBC.