Nigeria has strengthened its ties with Japan, securing a $190 million loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to advance renewable energy initiatives. The announcement was made during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama.
President Bola Tinubu, leading the Nigerian delegation, highlighted that the country’s participation is focused on creating meaningful, results-driven partnerships rather than simply promoting trade. He emphasized that Nigeria is transitioning from planning to action and from commitments to tangible outcomes.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu held high-level meetings with Japanese companies, including Toshiba, Hitachi, and Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, to discuss improving electricity transmission, operational efficiency, and reducing system losses.
The $190 million loan will support distributed renewable energy projects targeting underserved communities. This initiative builds on the World Bank’s $750 million Mission 300 Compact, which aims to provide clean and reliable electricity to over 17 million Nigerians.
The Federal Executive Council has also approved ₦19.08 billion in counterpart funding to facilitate a $238 million JICA loan, which will expand the national grid. The project will add new 330kV and 132kV double circuit lines, several substations, and line bay extensions nationwide.
Adelabu noted the recent commissioning of three substations in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa), and Apapa (Lagos), funded by a $32 million JICA grant. These projects aim to improve electricity reliability for homes, businesses, and critical industrial zones, including Lagos Port.
Additionally, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja has received advanced training equipment through JICA to enhance the skills of distribution engineers and reduce network losses.
The Minister pointed out that only 55–60% of Nigeria’s 200 million people currently have access to electricity, much of it unreliable. To address this, the government is expanding urban grid access while accelerating off-grid solutions, such as solar mini-grids and standalone systems for rural and peri-urban areas.
Adelabu expressed gratitude to JICA and the Japanese government for their continued support in driving Nigeria’s energy transition and expanding access to reliable and sustainable electricity.
