“Nigeria Goes Greener: FG Secures $190M JICA Support For Renewable Energy Revolution”

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that Nigeria is making significant strides in securing a $190 million renewable energy loan facility from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed at expanding distributed renewable energy solutions across underserved communities.

According to iReporter Online, this initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure energy equity and sustainability for all Nigerians.

During the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama, Japan, Minister Adelabu reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to strengthening strategic collaborations with Japan and other global partners.

The Nigerian delegation, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, engaged in high-level discussions centered around power, infrastructure, and industrial growth—key pillars for achieving long-term sustainable development.

Speaking at the summit, President Tinubu made it clear that Nigeria’s involvement in TICAD 9 went beyond trade exhibitions. Instead, he emphasized a shift toward forming strategic, outcome-oriented partnerships that yield measurable benefits for the Nigerian people.

He noted that Nigeria is transitioning from mere planning to implementation, from promises to actual delivery.

At the same event, According to iReporter Online, Minister Adelabu held productive discussions with top Japanese stakeholders—including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange corporations.

These talks focused on enhancing transmission infrastructure, boosting operational efficiency, and implementing strategies to reduce system losses.

These engagements align with the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of ₦19.08 billion in counterpart funding to unlock an additional $238 million JICA loan, which will facilitate the expansion of Nigeria’s national grid.

This includes nearly 208km of new transmission lines, several substations, and line bay extensions—all designed to increase energy capacity and reliability.

Meanwhile, under the World Bank-supported DARES programme, a $750 million initiative under the Mission 300 Compact is set to provide clean, stable electricity to over 17 million Nigerians.

Additionally, three substations—funded by JICA through a $32 million grant—are nearing commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State), further improving power supply to households, businesses, and industrial zones.

According to iReporter Online, the partnership between JICA and the Federal Government also extends to workforce development. The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) recently inaugurated advanced training equipment in Abuja, aimed at building local technical capacity and reducing network inefficiencies.

This development reflects a broader strategy to foster sustainable sector growth through skill-building and knowledge transfer.

During a panel session titled “HICKARE Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa,” Minister Adelabu spotlighted Nigeria’s current energy landscape—where only 55–60 percent of the population has access to electricity, much of it unreliable.

He explained the dual-track approach of expanding grid infrastructure in urban areas while deploying off-grid solutions such as solar mini-grids and standalone systems in rural and peri-urban communities.

Despite hurdles like limited affordable capital, rural affordability challenges, and under-utilisation of productive-use technologies, Minister Adelabu affirmed the government’s commitment to overcoming these issues through enabling policies, increased private-sector involvement, and local manufacturing of renewable energy components.

Finally, the Minister expressed deep appreciation to JICA and the Japanese Government for their enduring support. He hailed JICA as a dependable partner in driving Nigeria’s energy transition and improving electricity access nationwide, citing their contributions to infrastructure development, technical training, feasibility studies, and renewable energy financing.

He voiced optimism for even deeper cooperation in the future.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”