The European Union (EU) has announced its intention to inject €37 million into Nigeria’s power sector.
The Head of the EU Mission to Nigeria, Ambassador Samuela Isopi, disclosed this during her visit to Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, in Abuja on Friday.
She was accompanied by Mr. Luca Massimo, the new Head of Cooperation of the EU, and Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, Programme Manager on Energy.
Isopi clarified that this funding is separate from the approximately €200 million in grants already invested in the sector since 2008.
Speaking on the EU’s various intervention programmes in the power sector, the Envoy said that the current support would cover small hydro-power and solar for healthcare facilities.
Other areas to be covered in the current intervention are rural electrification with isolated and interconnected mini-grid projects and a circular economy.
According to her, the projects will commence soon.
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Isopi also used the opportunity to invite the minister to an upcoming inauguration of two projects funded by the EU and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Responding, the minister, who received the ambassador in the company of his Chief Technical Advisor, Mr Adedayo Olowoniyi , expressed appreciation to the EU for the support it has been giving to the sector.
Adelabu said that more support was needed to address the enormous challenges in the sector.
He said that the issue of liquidity was the main problem that the government is trying its best to resolve.
The minister said that the market would only be sustainable and run efficiently when there is a cost-reflective tariff in place.
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According to him, he was pleased with the EU programmes for the sector and confirmed their alignment with the ministry’s strategy.
The minister promised to work with the EU on its programmes, especially on small hydro and state electrification projects within the new Electricity Act.
NAN
