The sum of $9.7 million has been donated by the Japanese Government, through its agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, to boost electricity in Nigeria.
The donation was disclosed on Tuesday by the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, in Abuja.
The Japanese Government said it was making the gesture because it considers the power sector as one of the most important areas to enhance Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Stable power supply is crucial to support industry and to improve economy and the lives of people, the Japan said.
Mr Kusaoke said, “Since from 1970s, Japan has helped to finance power sector to increase the capacity of power in Kainji dam hydro power station.
“This is the 10th project of power sector by the Japan’s government since then and this will not be our last.”
According to him, “The project is being executed with grant assistance worth Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Japanese YEN (980,000,000 JPY) (equivalent to approximately 9.7 million USD) through JICA.”
Mr Kusaoke revealed that the project is capable of generating 1,496MWH, added that this would result in reduction of N31.5 million per year for payment of the electricity bill.
Earlier, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria office, said the project was designed to introduce a demonstration unit of solar electricity generation system with a view to increasing its economic strength on a sustainable basis.
“Following successful tests on the installed solar system, the first phase of the project with generation capacity of 975kwp is being commissioned today.
“The second phase will bring additional 207kwp generation to this system hopefully in January 2017,” Mr Nakamura disclosed.
He appealed to the FCT administration through its water board to handle the project with care and also provide sufficient funds to maintain the generation system.
In his remark, Alhaji Hudu Bello, the Director, FCT Water Board, who expressed gratitude to the government of Japan and its agency JICA, said the project would improve revenue accruable from the water sector in the FCT.
