Japan executes 148 projects worth $10bn in Nigeria.…As new ambassador assumes office in Nigeria

The Japanese Government has completed no fewer than 148 key projects worth over $10 billion in many states across the country between 1998 and 2014.

The projects comprise major interventions by the Asian nation in Nigeria’s rural communities in the areas of agriculture, education, health, vocational training, water and sanitation, among others.

This is contained in a statement released by the Japanese Embassy in Abuja and made available to Vanguard on Wednesday.

A breakdown of the projects shows that education had the lion’s share with a total of 51 projects, followed by water and sanitation with 39, while the country’s health sector attracted a total of 20 projects.

The Japanese government implemented 15 Vocational training projects, 12 agricultural schemes and eleven other projects not clearly classified, during the period under review.

A further breakdown of the projects indicates that Japan built schools, hospitals with sensitive equipment, radio stations, laboratories, rural electrification and water schemes and malaria control projects across the country within the same period.

Beyond the projects, Japan’s Official Development Assistance to Nigeria, ODA, stands at ¥86.6 or N149.6 billion while grant aid from the country to Nigeria stands at ¥ 294.5 or N508.8 billion.

Speaking on the assistance to Nigeria, the new Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke said: “The local ownership and sustainability of each GGP is paramount, which leads to meeting basic human needs at the community levels and eventually creates the potential for the social and economic growth of the country.

“I pledge that Japan will continue to partner with the Nigerian Civil Society and ultimately contribute to creating a brighter future,” the ambassador said.