Federal government has applauded a Japanese agency, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) for its contributions to the development of the power sector in Nigeria.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who spoke yesterday when the director, JICA’s research institute, Kato Hiroshi, led a delegation to his office in Abuja, particularly commended the agency in the area of capacity building and training of critical mass of professionals required to run the sector.
He said as the sector advances in the implementation of its reform, the role of technical experts, engineers, and craftsmen as well as other artisans/operators in the industry was to bring to fruition the goals of the reform.
He also thanked the agency for its upgrading of the Jebba Hydro Power Plant (JHPP) through its programmed repair works and rehabilitation.
He further 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.
Commenting on the Lower Usman Dam 1MW solar power project sponsored by the agency for the provision of electricity in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, he expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the feat.
He said if such miniature projects were replicated in smaller communities, it would ginger the community into being more protective of their power facilities.
Also speaking, Minister of state, power, Mohammed Wakil, urged the agency to play a more positive role in the area of renewable energy to complement the already laudable developmental activities it was known for in Nigeria.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Kato Hiroshi, stated that the country was developing systematically beyond imagination, expressing the Institute’s desire for continuous collaboration with the sector.