Nigeria’s national grid has received additional 1.2 megawatts (mw) of electricity, as the Federal Government commissioned 784 solar power panels at the Lower Usuma Dam, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The project is the 10th power project that is executed by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) in Nigeria.
Speaking during the handing over of the power panels, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to achieve incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply for Nigerians.
Fashola, who was represented by the Director of Renewable and Rural Access, Abayomi Adebisi, noted that government’s commitment is echoed in the road map designed by the Ministry, which is aimed at providing regular power supply to Nigerians.
He disclosed that some other major milestones of the project includes increase in annual energy generation to the tune of 1,498mw per hour and reduction of water treatment electricity bill by N31 million annually, which will, in turn, reduce the over dependence on fossil fuel.
Fashola, in his speech, commended the Japanese government for initiating the programme and used the occasion to call on private investors to tap into investing in renewable energy sources.
He assured them that the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for those interested in coming into the power sector in Nigeria.
On his part, the Ambassador of Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, who was represented by Masaya Otsuka, said that power in Nigeria is among priority in Japan.
The project was funded and constructed by the Japanese government under the Japan Grant Aid for the introduction of clean energy at a cost of nine hundred and eighty million Japanese Yen (JY980,000,000).
Also speaking, the Chief Representative, JICA, Hirotaka Nakamura, further stated that having commissioned the 1st phase with generating capacity of 975kwh in August last year, coupled with an additional 207kwh totaling 1.2mw is to benefit the water treatment plant at Usuma Dam and the communities within the vicinity.
In his contribution, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Bello, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Umar Gambo Jibrin, urged the FCT Water Board to ensure security and regular maintenance of the project.
He pointed out the project will strengthen the bilateral relationships between Nigeria and Japan.
He added that it would increase electricity and water supply to the FCT residence.
