Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has sought the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to co-finance a $750 million rural electrification project.
The project, backed by the World Bank, aims to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians in rural and underserved communities. Adelabu made the request during a visit to Japan, where he met with Japanese energy leaders, policymakers, and industry experts.
The goal of the visit was to strengthen bilateral energy partnerships and enhance Nigeria’s power infrastructure. The project, called the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up Project (DARES), will receive $200 million from JICA.
This is part of a larger plan to attract over $1 billion in private capital and additional financing from development partners. During the visit, the Nigerian delegation learned about Japan’s energy market structure, policy frameworks, and operational models.
They also explored Japan’s advanced electricity load dispatching mechanisms and grid optimization strategies. The partnership aims to enhance grid reliability, expand energy access, and foster long-term collaboration between Nigeria and Japan.
The visit reflects a unified commitment to transforming Nigeria’s power sector through global partnerships, innovation, and strategic policy implementation. Adelabu was accompanied on the visit by other top Nigerian officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency.
