German government has reiterated its resolve to provide necessary technical support towards the implementation of comprehensive renewable energy scheme that will lead to additional generation capacity of 1,000mw to 2,000mw.
Thomas Kirsch, country director, German Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), disclosed this at an interactive session with Adeyinka Ajayi, chairman, and members of House Committee on AIDS, Loans and Debt Management during an oversight functions to the GIZ country office in Abuja.
Kirsch, who reiterated the agency’s commitment towards provision of improved conditions for investment in Nigeria through coordinated and implementation of various developmental projects, said £24.5 million grant was being injected into the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) through the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and five state governments – Sokoto, Niger, Plateau, Cross River and Ogun, spanning between 2013 and 2018.
According to Kirsch, the collaboration has resulted into the adoption of the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy by the Federal Government, and the ministry of power is preparing a competitive bidding system for renewable energy projects.
He also unveiled the GIZ’s plans to embark on reconstruction of the communities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa and Borno states.
The GIZ boss explained the five-year work plan for the reconstruction of the North-East region, which was commissioned last month, was expected to take-off by mid-November 2016, “if security allow us to commence the reconstruction of schools, health centres and infrastructure.”
The agency held consultation with Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning in October 2016, on official commitment of the German government to Nigeria, he said.
According to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Q3 report on ‘ODA loan, grant, technical cooperation’ for the 2016 fiscal year presented to the Committee, some of the projects embarked on include: $18.9 million grant for emergency repair and overhaul works for the Jebba hydro power station, which has been completed and handed over to the Federal Government.
Others include provision of technical support worth $2.3 million for the Master Plan Study on National Power System Development, among others.
While speaking, Ajayi, chairman of the House Committee, applauded JICA and GIZ over the implementation of multi-million dollar developmental projects and programmes across the country.
During an overview of the presentations, Ajayi, who led the delegation, stressed the need for formal engagement between the House and donor agencies with the view to enrich the programme content and focus that would help in the implementation of various programmes and projects.
“Your Parliament will be concerned that you get value for the taxpayers’ money expended in Nigeria, to ensure that assistance is reaching where it’s intended,” Ajayi said, adding that the engagement would help the Nigerian Parliament to appreciate the efforts of the German Parliament in terms of grants, loans and aids provided for Nigerian people.
Some of the projects implemented at state levels include $12.1 million grant for the construction of classrooms for primary schools in Oyo State; $20 million for power transmission project; $4 million technical support for the strengthening of pro-poor community health services in Lagos State, and loan for phase 1 and 2 for the Mass Rapid Transport in Lagos State.
Grant worth $9.3 million was also provided for the introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity generation system in Federal Capital Territory; $12.5 million grant for emergency improvement of electricity supply facilities in Abuja; $6.8 million technical support for FCT reduction of non-revenue water project as well as $3.6 million technical support for the integrated solid waste management system in the nation’s capital city.
Members of the Committee, who expressed satisfaction over the cordial bilateral agreements between Nigeria, Japan and German authorities, expressed optimism that all ongoing projects and programmes including ‘Emergency repair and overhaul works for Jebba hydro power station,’ which was handed over to the Federal Government in February 2016, through the intervention of JICA at the sum of $18.9 million (JPY 1,990m) would bridge major infrastructure deficit.
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