The Japanese Government, through its agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has donated solar power worth $9.7 million to the Federal Government to boost electricity in the country. The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of the project.
Kusaoke stated that Japan considered the power sector as one of the most important areas to enhance Nigeria`s socio-economic development.
“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,” he said.
He said the project which entailed the introduction of clean energy by solar electricity was donated by the government of Japan to boost power and water supply at Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant.
“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,” he said.
According to him, stable power supply is crucial to support industry and to improve economy and the lives of people. He emphasised the importance of stable power supply to Nigeria`s quest to diversify her economy.
He lauded the designer of the project, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, for its design, management and the completion of the project on schedule.
Kusaoke, who explained that the project was capable of generating 1,496MWH, added that this would result in reduction of N31.5 million per year for payment of the electricity bill.