Nigeria is advancing a $190 million renewable energy loan facility supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed at expanding distributed renewable energy solutions across underserved communities.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan.

Adelabu explained that the government is determined to use this loan to scale renewable energy projects that will directly impact rural and urban households. “This facility is designed to provide clean energy access to communities that have remained underserved for years,” he said.

The Nigerian delegation at TICAD 9 was led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who participated in a series of high-level meetings focused on power, infrastructure, and industrial transformation.

Tinubu stated that Nigeria’s presence at the summit was not for trade exhibitions but to build strategic partnerships that can drive real change. “We are deliberately shifting from planning to implementation, from agreements to delivery, and from promises to measurable results,” the President said.

At the summit, Adelabu also held talks with leading Japanese energy corporations such as Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange companies. These discussions centered on strengthening Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and reducing system losses.

The Minister revealed that the loan builds on the recent Federal Executive Council approvals for counterpart funding of ₦19,083,192,805.30 to unlock $238 million in additional financing from JICA.

This funding will be used to expand the national grid through projects that include 102.95 kilometers of new 330kV double circuit lines, 104.59 kilometers of 132kV double circuit lines, four 330/132/33kV substations, two 132/33kV substations, two 330kV line bay extensions, two 132kV line bay extensions, and one 132kV substation.

In addition, Adelabu confirmed that the government had earlier launched a $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact. This initiative is expected to deliver reliable and clean electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.

At the same time, three new substations funded by JICA through a $32 million grant are set for commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State). These substations will improve power supply to homes, businesses, industrial clusters, and key facilities such as the Lagos Port.

Partnerships with JICA also extend to human capacity development. The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has commissioned new training equipment in Abuja with JICA’s support. This facility is targeted at building the skills of engineers who manage electricity distribution networks. According to Adelabu, the training institute is critical for long-term sustainability in Nigeria’s power sector.

Speaking during a panel session titled “HICKARE Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa,” Adelabu highlighted the country’s energy challenges. He noted that only 55 to 60 percent of Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people currently have access to electricity, and much of it is unreliable.

He stressed that the government is tackling this issue by expanding the national grid in cities while also promoting off-grid solutions like solar mini-grids and standalone systems for rural communities.

The Minister pointed out that despite the opportunities, there are obstacles such as limited access to affordable capital, high costs for rural households, and under-utilisation of renewable energy equipment.

However, he reassured that the government remains committed to overcoming these challenges by encouraging private sector investment, implementing supportive policies, and promoting local manufacturing of renewable energy components.

Adelabu praised JICA and the Government of Japan for their long-standing partnership with Nigeria. He acknowledged their contributions to infrastructure projects, renewable energy financing, technical studies, and workforce training. “We recognise JICA as a reliable partner in advancing Nigeria’s energy transition and expanding access to sustainable electricity,” he said.

Through these agreements and ongoing projects, Nigeria aims to strengthen energy security, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and expand access to affordable electricity for millions of citizens. The partnerships struck at TICAD 9 underline Nigeria’s commitment to building an energy sector that supports industrial growth, job creation, and sustainable economic development.

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has emphasized the importance of data protection in humanitarian work during a visit to the World Food Programme (WFP) office in Abuja.

The National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, paid a courtesy visit to the Acting Country Director of the WFP, Mr Christophe Boutonnier, to discuss data privacy and compliance.

Speaking during the visit, Dr Olatunji said the Commission was at the WFP office to enlighten the organisation, as a data controller and processor of major importance, on the need to protect the personal data of its beneficiaries and personnel.

He noted that while the WFP is a United Nations agency, data protection and privacy remain global responsibilities for every entity that handles personal data. According to him, “compliance with data protection laws enhances credibility, and fosters trust and confidence among beneficiaries and stakeholders.”

Mr Boutonnier commended Dr Olatunji for the engagement and highlighted the scale of WFP operations in Nigeria.

He explained that the agency supports about 750,000 vulnerable Nigerians daily with food and cash assistance.

He added that the WFP fully recognizes the importance of data protection and privacy, stressing that the organisation has mechanisms in place to safeguard personal information in its database.

Mr Boutonnier also invited the NDPC to participate in WFP’s staff capacity-building workshops. Dr Olatunji accepted the invitation on behalf of the Commission, noting that it aligns with efforts to strengthen awareness and compliance. Both parties also explored other potential areas of collaboration.

The National Cash Transfer Office has announced a collaboration with the Ogun State Government to strengthen the implementation of the National Social Safety Nets Programme Scale-Up (NASSP-SU).

At a stakeholders’ forum held in Abeokuta on Thursday, the Ogun Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, emphasized the need to ensure that conditional cash transfers reach the rightful beneficiaries.

Represented by Jola Oyeneye, Permanent Secretary of the Public Transformation Office, Mr Onasanya stated that many countries around the world implement similar social protection measures to reduce the effects of economic hardship on citizens, especially the most vulnerable.

He urged programme managers to ensure that the government’s initiative is not hijacked by unscrupulous elements. Onasanya added that the Ogun State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, remains fully committed to a transparent implementation of the cash transfer programme.

Also speaking at the forum, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmi Efuwape, described the initiative as a “lifeline for the poor and vulnerable.” She said the programme represents a clear commitment to poverty alleviation but highlighted the importance of spreading more awareness among potential beneficiaries.

“This programme is a way of giving back to the people. It is meant for those at the very bottom who are struggling to feed themselves,” she said.

“However, I think more awareness is needed because some beneficiaries are not even aware of their eligibility. This time, we will involve ward chairmen at the grassroots level to drive the process.”

Funmi Baker, Programme Manager for Cash Transfer in Ogun, explained that the initiative is designed to support 15 million poor and vulnerable households identified from the national social register. She pointed out that even small amounts of money can make a big difference in rural areas.

“Some people may think the money is too small, but what N1,000 means to you is different from what it means to rural dwellers,” she noted. “Initially, the federal government gave N5,000 monthly to poor and vulnerable households, and we have seen families that started small businesses with it. Since 2023, under President Bola Tinubu, the amount has been increased to N25,000, to be disbursed three times, making a total of N75,000 per household.”

One of the participants, community leader Adedamola Fatai from Abeokuta South Local Government, praised the programme, describing it as “well-organised.” He commended the arrangements put in place to ensure Community Development Associations (CDAs) are included in the process.

Only 36 per cent of households targeted by the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme since October 2023 have benefited, according to a mid-year economic report released by PwC and earlier reported by Punch.

The initiative was relaunched in 2023 to ease the burden on vulnerable Nigerians following the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market under the Bola Tinubu administration.

PwC noted that while millions of households were included, the pace of payment has been slow. “Official figures showed that while 5.6 million households benefited from at least one transfer, just 2.4 million received a second and fewer than 1.3 million progressed to a third payment after biometric verification, raising questions about the pace and reach of the initiative,” the firm said.

The conditional cash transfer is designed to provide direct financial support to households in the lowest poverty bracket. However, the PwC report suggests that delays in verification and other administrative bottlenecks have limited its reach.

In April, the Federal Government launched a National Identity Number enrolment campaign as part of efforts to improve transparency and strengthen the Social Register used for the programme. Under this policy, at least one adult in each eligible household is required to be verified with a NIN or Bank Verification Number before accessing support. PwC explained that this process, though challenging in rural areas, may improve the accuracy of targeting and ensure that support reaches the most vulnerable Nigerians.

By May, the government confirmed that 2.3 million households had been cleared for payment under the renewed scheme. The World Bank is providing major backing for the project. Out of an $800 million loan approved for the initiative, $530 million had been disbursed as of April 30, 2025.

In its Nigeria Development Update titled ‘Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth,’ the World Bank observed that “Only 5.6 million households, around 37 per cent, have received at least one tranche of direct transfers,” while urging the government to expand coverage.

The Bank added that “the programme remains dependent on biometrically verifying at least one adult member of the household with a foundational digital identity. Also, efforts to urgently provide support to the poorest and most economically at-risk households should be redoubled and expanded.”

PwC also provided an update on oil price trends and their implications for Nigeria’s economy. According to the report, global geopolitical risks in the first half of 2025, including U.S.–China tensions, the Middle East conflict, and cyber threats, had a limited effect on oil markets. “Oil prices fell from $79.21 per barrel to $71.21 per barrel between January and June 2025. The decline was driven by the increase in output of nearly one million barrels per day in April and June by OPEC+, which reinforced downward pressure amid uncertain demand,” PwC stated.

The report added that sustained escalation of geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could still impact oil markets in the medium term. “Such an outcome may prove favourable to Nigeria, given its reliance on crude oil exports (the benchmark oil price for 2025 was set at US$75 per barrel) as a major source of foreign exchange revenue,” PwC said.

Looking ahead, PwC projected that Nigeria’s gross domestic product will expand “modestly by 3.4 per cent in 2025, supported by higher crude oil production and stronger performance in the finance and insurance, construction, ICT and real estate sectors.” This projection comes as investors and policymakers closely monitor the nation’s energy sector and fiscal reforms.

On inflation, PwC estimated that headline inflation will moderate to 21.46 per cent in 2025 due to hawkish monetary policy and greater stability in the foreign exchange market. The report noted that with the recent decline in inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria may begin to gradually ease its tight monetary stance in the second half of 2025.

Analysts say these projections, combined with government reforms and international financing support, highlight both opportunities and challenges for Nigeria’s economy.

The success of the conditional cash transfer programme, backed by the World Bank’s $800 million loan, remains central to the government’s strategy to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and protect the most vulnerable households.