By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
COMMITMENT TO strengthening strategic alliances with Japan and other international partners was reaffirmed at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, where President Bola Tinubu led the Nigerian delegation in high-level engagements focused on power, infrastructure, and industrial transformation as drivers of sustainable development.
Speaking at the summit, the President Tinubu stated that Nigeria’s participation was focused on forging strategic, outcome-driven partnerships to deliver tangible results for the Nigerian people.
He stressed that the Federal Government is shifting from planning to implementation, from agreements to delivery, and from promises to measurable results.
During the conference, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, engaged with Japanese stakeholders including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange corporations.
Discussions centred on strengthening transmission infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and reducing system losses.
These talks followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval of counterpart funding of N19,083,192,805.30 to catalyse a $238 million loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The facility will support the expansion of the national grid through the addition of 102.95km of new 330kV double circuit line, 104.59km of new 132kV double circuit line, four 330/132/33kV substations, two 132/33kV substations, two 330kV line bay extensions, two 132kV line bay extensions, and one 132kV substation.
Minister Adelabu also announced progress on a $190 million renewable energy loan facility supported by JICA, targeted at scaling distributed renewable energy solutions in underserved communities.
This initiative complements the $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, designed to deliver clean and reliable electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.
Three substations funded by JICA through a $32 million grant are scheduled for commissioning in Apo (Federal Capital Territory), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State).
These projects aim to improve power supply reliability to households, businesses, and industrial clusters, including the Lagos Port and adjoining industrial areas.
In addition, JICA has supported the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja with state-of-the-art training equipment to strengthen the capacity of distribution engineers.
The facility is designed to enhance technical skills, reduce network losses, and promote long-term sustainability through local expertise and capacity development, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s power sector strategy.
Speaking during a panel session titled HICKARE Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa, Minister Adelabu highlighted Nigeria’s energy realities.
He explained that only 55–60 percent of the country’s population has access to electricity, much of which remains unreliable.
The Minister noted that the government is expanding grid access in urban areas while accelerating off-grid renewable solutions such as solar mini-grids and standalone systems for rural and peri-urban communities.
Adelabu acknowledged challenges including limited access to affordable capital, high costs for rural households, and under-utilisation of productive-use equipment.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these barriers through supportive policies, strategic private-sector partnerships, and local manufacturing of renewable energy components.
Adelabu expressed appreciation to JICA and the Government of Japan for their long-standing support to Nigeria’s power sector.
He recognised JICA as a reliable partner in advancing the country’s energy transition, expanding reliable electricity access, and strengthening cooperation through infrastructure development, technical studies, training, and renewable energy financing.
Adelabu also conveyed optimism for continued collaboration between both governments.
