Nigeria has concluded plans to borrow $200 million from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to conduct the proposed Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion programme to support the power expansion programme in Lagos and Ogun states.
The programme will provide about 203km high voltage transmission lines and 6 high voltage substations which cover five local governments in Ogun state and one local government in Lagos state, involving appropriately 200 communities.
Speaking shortly after a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the Japan International Co-operation Agency the minister of power, Abubakar Aliyu, said part of the counterpart funding would be used to compensate affected persons around the corridor.
“The counterpart funding for compensation of Project Affected Persons (PAP), consultancy services for line route studies, environmental and social impact assessment, the environmental social management plan for the proposed JICA transmission projects in Lagos and Ogun states is reflected in the 2021/ 2022 appropriation of the Ministry” the minister, said.
He said the project is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari resolve to ensure that best practices are applied, particularly to infrastructural development in the electricity supply industry in Nigeria. The minister said that transmission was a major stake of government to raise operational capacity to an appreciable level particularly at areas where industries were rapidly expanding.
According to him, consultancy services for line route studies, and the environmental social management plan for the proposed JICA transmission projects in Lagos and Ogun states had been completed.
In his comments the team lead, and senior representative, JICA, Nigeria office, Sasaki Taigo, said their mission was to put final touches, and to confirm the content of loan agreement and project memorandum of the Lagos and Ogun power transmission systems.
Taigo also said the meetings were necessary as it provided the last minute opportunity for JICA and the relevant Nigerian officials to tidy up the process that would enable the loan agreement being signed anytime in March 2022.
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
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