MINISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Friday, led Nigeria’s delegation in bilateral talks with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on ongoing power and infrastructure projects undertaken by the agency in Nigeria.
A statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Oluyinka Akintunde, said Nigeria and the agency also discussed new projects being contemplated for execution in the country by the agency.
The talks were held in Washington DC, United States at the ongoing annual meetings of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the statement, the Minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Isa-Dutse, who commended the JICA for its strong bilateral relations with Nigeria and assured the agency of continuous harmonious relations conducive for the completion of ongoing projects, including the refurbishment of Jeba hydro power project.
Earlier, leader of the JICA delegation, Kato, disclosed that the agency was planning to sign a loan agreement for power transmission project by March 2019.
Kato said the purpose of the meeting, which was at its instance, was to review a proposal submitted to it for improvement of nutrition in Nigeria as well as review ongoing and new projects.
“JICA is planning to implement the Technical Cooperation Project on capacity development for nutrition improvement in the Federal Capital Territory. This project has five years duration.
“The concept seeks to improve the nutrition situation of rural people in the FCT through dietary improvement and local production and local consumption of nutrition rich food,” Kato was quoted to have said.
The agency, the statement said, also expressed interest in implementing a master plan study on National Power System Development, pledging technical cooperation towards its realisation.
Also at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Nigeria’s Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank, Alhaji Haruna Mohammed and the Director of International Economic Relations Department of the FMF, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed.
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