Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has committed 2.35 billion Japanese yen, approximately N20 billion, to expand and rehabilitate critical transmission infrastructure in Nigeria. The funding targets the Apapa Transmission Substation in Lagos, a facility described as vital to the national grid.
JICA Chief Representative Ishigame Keiji disclosed the commitment during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. He said the project covers construction works, equipment procurement, engineering services, operational training, and implementation support. According to Keiji, the rehabilitation has already enhanced transmission capacity, improved operational reliability, strengthened grid stability, and reduced bottlenecks affecting power evacuation and distribution in Lagos and surrounding areas.
Beyond the Apapa substation, Japan is implementing a separate Official Development Assistance project through a concessional loan to reinforce the transmission network across the Lagos-Ogun corridor. JICA is also providing technical assistance and policy advisers to the Federal Ministry of Power to support institutional improvements and regulatory reforms.
Keiji emphasized that Japan’s government support aligns with growing private-sector interest from Japanese companies in Nigeria’s power market. He noted that technical cooperation, including policy advice and implementation guidelines, aims to create conditions for sustainable investment.
The JICA representative urged Nigerian authorities and private investors to pursue a balanced mix of on-grid, off-grid, and mini-grid solutions to expand electricity access nationwide. He highlighted ongoing collaboration with the World Bank to develop mini-grids, particularly in rural communities, arguing that a diversified approach is essential for a country of Nigeria’s scale and geography.
JICA experts are currently deployed within the Ministry of Power to support policy recommendations and institutional capacity building. The combined interventions are expected to contribute to a more reliable and sustainable power sector, addressing long-standing deficits in generation, transmission, and distribution.
