This follows key discussions between Nigerian delegations, led by President Bola Tinubu and attended by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu and others with Japanese stakeholders, during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
The Nigerian delegation engaged with major energy firms, including Toshiba, Hitachi, and Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, to explore improvements in grid infrastructure, operational efficiency, and system loss reduction.
The loan is targeted at financing the construction of nearly 103km of new 330kV double circuit lines and 105km of 132kV double circuit lines. It will also support the development of six substations, including four 330/132/33kV and two 132/33kV facilities, along with multiple line bay extensions.
The Minister announced that Nigeria is advancing a separate $190 million renewable energy loan with JICA to scale solar mini-grids and standalone systems in underserved communities. This initiative builds on the $750 million World Bank-supported DARES programme, aimed at providing reliable, clean power to over 17 million Nigerians.
In parallel, three JICA-funded substations in Apo, Keffi, and Apapa, delivered under a $32 million grant, are set to be commissioned, boosting power reliability for residential, commercial, and industrial users, including Lagos Port and nearby industrial clusters.
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To strengthen local capacity, Adelabu added that JICA also partnered with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria to equip its Abuja facility with advanced training tools for distribution engineers.
The Power Minister noted that only 60% of Nigeria’s population currently has access to electricity, much of it unreliable. He said the government is pursuing grid expansion in urban areas and renewable off-grid solutions in rural regions, despite challenges like limited financing and high costs.
The administration reaffirmed its commitment to tangible delivery in the power sector, praising Japan and JICA as key partners in Nigeria’s energy transition.
Source: Channels
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