The Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has committed about N20 billion to the expansion and rehabilitation of Nigeria’s national electricity grid.
The JICA Chief Representative in Nigeria, Ishigame Keiji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday.
Keiji said the 2.35 billion Japanese yen funding would support the construction and rehabilitation of transmission infrastructure, equipment procurement, engineering services, operational training and other project activities.
He said the intervention was aimed at strengthening critical transmission infrastructure in Lagos, where rising electricity demand and ageing facilities had increased pressure on the power system.
According to him, the rehabilitation of the Apapa Transmission Substation has increased transmission capacity, improved reliability and reduced bottlenecks affecting electricity evacuation and distribution in Lagos and neighbouring areas.
JICA is also implementing another concessional-loan project to improve the transmission network covering Lagos and Ogun states.
Keiji said the agency would provide technical assistance and policy advisers to the Ministry of Power to support reforms and strengthen the development of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
“The Government of Japan, through JICA, is collaborating with the Ministry of Power to enhance stable and reliable power supply in Nigeria,” he said.
He said Japanese companies and other private investors remained interested in Nigeria because of its large market, urging the government to provide stronger support and encourage greater private-sector participation.
Keiji also disclosed that JICA was collaborating with the World Bank on mini-grid development, particularly for rural communities, while deploying experts to support policy and institutional reforms in the power sector.
