FG signs agreement with Japan to improve power supply

12 Feb 2016
Chibuike Oguh

Summary

The agreement allows the Japanese government to extend an $11 million grant (N2.2 billion) to upgrade two power substations in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Nigeria's Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma

Nigeria and Japan have signed an agreement to upgrade power supply infrastructure in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

The agreement allows the Japanese government to extend an $11 million grant (N2.2 billion) to upgrade two power substations in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State, the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said during the signing ceremony in Abuja on Thursday.
 
“The project aims to install capacitor banks in Apo and Keffi Substations in FCT and Nasarawa State respectively and will contribute to stable power supply, decrease transmission loss and improve system reliability,” Udoma said. “The sustained implementation of this project is expected to pave way for a significant access to quality socio-economic services, thereby leading to reduction in unemployment in the country and promoting community empowerment.”

Udoma signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government while the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, signed on behalf of his country.

“With this grant of 1.3 billion yen ( $11 million) to upgrade two substations in F.C.T and Nasarawa State, we aim to prevent voltage drop, reduce power loss and stabilise power supply to approximately 7,000 households in Abuja,” Kusaoke said. “The project will make Abuja more attractive for investors as well as residents.”

Nigeria suffers from chronic power shortages due to decades of mismanagement and lack of investment. The country’s power consumption is still very low, generating about 4,000 mega-watts of electricity and Nigeria has a per capita power consumption of 149 kilowatt hour (kWh). South Africa generates about 40,000MW of power and the country has a per capita power consumption (as of 2011) of 4,606kWh. The United States, with a per capita power consumption of 13,246kWh, has an electricity generation capacity of 4.6 billion MW.


Other Photos/Videos

Advertisement