Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with Japan and other global stakeholders during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama, Japan.

Led by President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian delegation engaged in high-level discussions centred on power, infrastructure, and industrial transformation—key drivers of sustainable development. According to the Federal Ministry of Power, the event marked a major milestone with Nigeria securing a $190 million loan for renewable energy initiatives.

In his remarks at the summit, President Tinubu clarified that Nigeria’s presence at TICAD9 was not for trade exhibition purposes, but to foster strategic, result-oriented partnerships that would yield concrete benefits for the Nigerian people. He highlighted the country’s shift from policy formulation to implementation, from verbal commitments to actionable outcomes.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was also part of the delegation, held strategic meetings with top Japanese stakeholders, including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange companies. The focus of these talks was on improving transmission infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and minimising system losses.

Adelabu announced that the $190 million loan facility from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would support the deployment of distributed renewable energy solutions to underserved areas. This complements the recently launched $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, which targets electrifying over 17 million Nigerians.

The Ministry also disclosed that these engagements align with the recent Federal Executive Council’s approval of ₦19.08 billion in counterpart funding to unlock an additional $238 million loan from JICA. This funding will facilitate the expansion of the national grid through the construction of over 100km of 330kV and 132kV double circuit lines, multiple substations, and line bay extensions.

In addition, the Minister announced the commissioning of three substations—located in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State)—funded through a $32 million grant from JICA. These projects aim to improve power supply reliability for homes, businesses, and industrial hubs, including strategic facilities like the Lagos Port.

As part of the JICA collaboration, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja has been equipped with cutting-edge training tools to enhance the capacity of distribution engineers. This initiative supports long-term sustainability by boosting local expertise in power sector operations.

Speaking during a panel session, Adelabu addressed the country's energy challenges, stating that only 55–60% of Nigeria’s population currently has access to electricity, with many still facing unreliable supply. He noted that the Federal Government is actively bridging this gap by expanding the national grid in urban areas while accelerating the rollout of off-grid solutions—such as solar mini-grids and standalone systems—for rural and peri-urban regions.

The minister expressed profound appreciation to the Japanese government and JICA for their continued support in Nigeria’s energy transition and efforts to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity nationwide.