Ambassador to Nigeria Ryuichi Shoji second from left; Photo: www.icirnigeria.org
PANA
Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian government is collaborating with Japan in order to tackle the electricity transmission problem facing the country, according to local media reports Wednesday.
Both countries, through their representatives, have agreed to deal with the setbacks in Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure, after a delegation from Japan – led by the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria Ryuichi Shoji – met with Nigeria’s Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo in the capital city of Abuja Tuesday.
Ambassador Shoji told the Power Minister that Japan would do whatever was possible to impact to Nigerians the relevant knowledge needed to drive the power sector.
In his response, Prof. Nebo urged Japan to participate in the rural electrification initiative of the government, especially in making the country to benefit from the US$500 million it earmarked for renewable energy in the next five years.
He thanked Japan for providing US$15 million for the construction of the Katampe sub-station and urged it to consider similar reinforcement projects to help to stabilise the power sector.
The Nigerian government, in a move to improve the poor power supply situation in Africa’s most populous nation, has embarked on series of reforms of the sector.
Nigeria, with a population of 170 million, generates about 4,000 mega watts of electricity, even though experts believe the country needs at least 10,000MW for an uninterrupted power supply.
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