The Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has committed N20 billion to expand and rehabilitate Nigeria’s national electricity grid, with the Apapa Transmission Substation in Lagos among the key beneficiaries.
JICA Chief Representative in Nigeria, Ishigame Keiji, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
He said the 2.35 billion Japanese yen funding would cover construction, equipment procurement, engineering services, operational training and other project activities.
According to Keiji, the intervention is aimed at strengthening critical transmission infrastructure in Lagos, where rising electricity demand and ageing facilities have placed pressure on the power system.
He said the rehabilitation of the Apapa substation had increased transmission capacity, improved reliability and reduced bottlenecks affecting electricity evacuation and distribution across Lagos and neighbouring areas.
Japan, through JICA, is also implementing another concessional-loan project to improve the transmission network covering Lagos and Ogun states.
Keiji added that JICA would provide technical assistance and policy advisers to the Ministry of Power to support reforms and improve 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 stronger government support and increased private-sector participation.
He 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.
.jpg)