ABUJA – The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Tuesday said the Federal Government would collaborate with international agencies for more capacity building and training of professionals in the power sector.
The minister made the pledge when a delegation from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.
Nebo commended JICA for its positive contributions to the development of the sector in the area of capacity building and training of critical mass of professionals required to run the sector.
“The role of technical experts, engineers, craftsmen and other artisans/operators cannot be over emphasised in order to bring the goals of the reform in the sector to fruition.
He commended the recent grant given to the sector by the Japanese Government for developmental programme, describing it as a positive move in the right direction.
He recalled that the agency was also very instrumental in upgrading the Jebba Hydro Power Plant through its programmed repair and rehabilitation.
The minister applauded the one megawatt solar power project sponsored by the agency for the provision of electricity at Lower Usman Dam in Bwari Area Council of FCT.
According to him, such miniature projects will go a long way in boosting power supply in the country.
The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, urged the agency to play a more positive role in the area of renewable energy development in the country.
Earlier, the Director of JICA Research Institute, Mr Kato Hiroshi, said the institute was ready to collaborate with the sector in the area of training and capacity building. (NAN)
