Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a $500 million Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA, intervention project to strengthen power transmission infrastructure along the Lagos-Ogun industrial corridor.
This was revealed in a statement released by Bolaji Tunji, the Minister of Power’s Special Advisor on Strategic Communication and Media Relations.
With a high concentration of manufacturing companies and economic activity, the Lagos-Ogun industrial corridor is a significant industrial hub in southwest Nigeria. However, it has several issues, including inadequate power supply and poor infrastructure, which the $500 million JICA project seeks to remedy.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced this while playing host to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, in Abuja.
The JICA project aims to boost power transmission infrastructure within and outside the Ogun industrial corridors, covering Agbara, Mowe, and Shagamu industrial clusters.
The minister said: “We also have the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects, the highlights of which include boosting power transmission infrastructure within and outside the Ogun industrial corridors.
“Also ongoing are some Transmission Company of Nigeria’s, TCN, projects aimed at enhancing power supply to Ogun.
“All these will involve building additional power transmission substations and upgrading existing ones as well as reconductoring existing weak high voltage power lines and new extensions for capacity strengthening and expansion.”
Adelabu urged Governor Abiodun to collaborate with the ministry to impress on gas pipeline operators to improve the pipeline infrastructure passing through the state to boost the pressure quality and quantity of gas supplies to power plants and industries within the state.
The minister also promised to undertake an official visit to the state as requested by the governor to enable him to meet with the industrialists within the corridors for possible areas of cooperation and collaboration.
The governor commended the minister for the improvements in power supply and urged him to sustain the momentum. He also commended Adelabu on the ongoing turnaround being witnessed in the nation’s power sector and enjoined him to sustain the momentum, which he said would further galvanise the economy.
The governor said: “I came to visit but I have to commend you for performing wonders in the power sector. It’s to encourage you to sustain the noticeable improvement.
“As part of my visit, I want to make a special appeal to you for special attention to further enhance power infrastructure and supply to Ogun which is a key industrial hub in the country.
“I am aware that since you assumed duty, you have visited some major industries and power plants in the state like Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company, Coleman Wires and Cables and Splendor Electric, producers of Porcelain high voltage electric insulators, as well as the Olorunsogo Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC ) and Nigerian National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) power plant in Papa Lanto. However, we have a lot more to show you.”
Abiodun said the minister’s visit to Ogun would enable him to meet with industrialists in the state.
