BY CHRIS OCHAYI

ABUJA: The Federal Government said the Japan International Corporation Agency, JICA, has made positive contributions to the development of the nation’s power sector.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who spoke when the Director, JICA’s Research Institute, Mr. Kato Hiroshi, led a delegation to his office in Abuja, said the agency has helped Nigeria in the area of capacity building and training of critical mass of professionals that would be required to run the sector.

According to him, as the sector advances in the implementation of its ongoing reform, the role of technical experts, engineers, craftsmen as well as other artisans/operators in the industry, to bring to fruition the goals of the reform cannot be over emphasized.

Nebo also thanked the Agency for its upgrading of the Jebba Hydro Power Plant through its programmed repair works and rehabilitation.
He further commended the recent grant given to the sector by the Japanese Government for development programmes, describing it as a positive move in the right direction.

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, the Minister applauded the feat, stating that if such miniature projects were replicated in smaller communities, it will ginger them into being more protective of their power facilities, as these infrastructure are meant to provide them with electricity.

In his comments, the Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, urged the Agency to play a more positive role in the area of renewable energy, to complement the already laudable developmental activities JICA is known for in Nigeria.

Earlier, Hiroshi the leader of the delegation stated that the country was developing systematically,, and expressed the Institute’s desire for continuous collaboration with the sector.