Federal Government’s commitment to incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply received a boost on Thursday as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, commissioned the 60MVAR 132KV Capacitor Bank at Apo Transmission substation, Abuja, to improve voltage, stabilize and increase access to electricity supply in the country.
Fashola while commissioning the project said Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is one of the biggest partner in the development of the power sector in the Country, saying that the project was carried out by JICA through mutual cooperation between the Nigerian and Japanese governments to improve electricity supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nassarawa state.
The completed power capacitor banks at Apo and Keffi Transmission substations is valued at 1.317billion Japanese yen. The Minister emphasized that if there is any sector that has the highest investments in the country, it is the power sector.
He further said that at the 26th Power Sector Operators’ Meeting held recently in Umuahia, Abia State, stakeholders expressed their commitment to improving services through the rolling out of both transmission and distribution projects to increase access to quality and clean electricity in the Country.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Sadanobu Kusaoke, in his remarks, reiterated the high level of priority the Government of Japan places on its support to Nigeria’s power sector especially in expanding the electrification of rural areas, the introduction of clean energy by solar electricity generation systems and training of experts.
He said the power capacitor banks would decrease the transmission loss and stabilize power supply and is also expected to provide stable power supply to about 7000 households making the city of Abuja and its environs more attractive for investment which in turn, would contribute to economic development.
In his words, “our support to Nigeria’s power sector will not end with this project. The Government of Japan, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, is now in signing an Exchange of Note for the Project Emergency Rehabilitation and Reinforcement of Lagos Transmission Substation. It is hoped that this Lagos project will also help to improve the electricity supply in that state, thereby attracting more investment to Nigeria’s commercial capital and making life more comfortable for residents”.
Ibrahim Haruna, DD Press
For: Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
