Government of Japan has extended the aid of JPY 1.317 billion (about $11 million) to the Federal Government of Nigeria for emergency improvement of electricity supply facilities in Abuja. At yesterday’s grant signing ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Budget andNational Planning, Abuja, Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke, said the project was targeted at assisting Nigeria’s economic developmentby helping to attract more investments by improving the power sector. Kusaoke explained that the grant was to be used in the upgrade of two substations in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State. “We aim to prevent voltage drop, reduce power loss and stabilize power supply to approximately 7,000 householdsin Abuja.The project will make Abuja more attractive for investors as well as residents,” the ambassador said. He stated further, “Power sector has long been one of the priority areas in Japan’s development cooperation in Nigeria. As early as the 1970’s, Japan helped finance the strengthening of the capacity of Kainji Hydro Power station. “Japan also partnered Nigeria to electrify rural areas mainly in the North. In future, more ambitious power sector projects will follow.” The Japanese Ambassador further disclosed that at the Fifth Tokyo International conference on African Development, TICAD V, in 2013, the Japanese government declared its commitment to promoting inclusive growth in Africa through support to the power sector, adding that the current $11 million power project embodies the spirit of that 2013 declaration.Responding, Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator, Udo Udoma, while appreciating the Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, for the grant, reiterated the federal government’s readiness to ensure effective managementand sustainability of the project through the power ministry. Revealing more details about the project, Udoma stated: “The project aims to install capacitor banks in Apo and Keffi substations in FCT and Nassarawa State respectively, adding that “it will contribute to stable power supply, decrease transmission loss and improve system reliability.
”Credit: NationalMirror
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