Nigeria, Japan sign N642m economic, social development grant pact

Nigeria and Japan on Tuesday, signed a grant aid project on economic and social development worth N642million. The amount would be provided by the Government of Japan.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, signed on behalf of his home country.
A statement from the Budget Ministry said the programme aims at exploring development strategies that will enhance competitiveness and support the Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts. It is also meant to improve standard of living and ensure environmental sustainability, which is in line with the development priorities encapsulated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) (2017–2020) of the Buhari administration.
While signing the agreement, Udoma expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to Japan, for its numerous interventions in various sectors of the country’s economy in support of its development aspirations; and particularly for aligning its intervention programmes with the ERGP.He also recalled last year’s signing of an Exchange of Note (E/N) with Japan on Emergency Improvement of Electricity Supply Facilities in Abuja, and commended its role in the development of the National Power Development Master Plan, designed to guide government on the optimal energy mix and efficiency for the country.
The Minister also thanked the Japanese Government for the various technical assistance programmes offered in a wide range of skill-areas by that country’s government and the implementation of other grant projects and programmes nationwide through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“The Economic and Social Development programme for which we are here gathered this morning, is also one of such interventions in the sum of Y200,000,000.00 (approximately N642,204,315.79),” the Minister was quoted as saying.
He assured of the Nigerian government’s commitment to working more closely with the Government of Japan to achieve sustainable economic development for the country. “We will also continue to explore development options, strategies and paradigms that will engender more mutually beneficial collaborations in support of our long-term friendship,” he added.
The Japanese Ambassador said although his home country’s government has been extending grant aids to Nigeria in different fields over the years, it considers the ones for health and agriculture particularly important, because advanced pharmaceutical research and improved agricultural production have direct, positive impact on the quality of life and on inclusiveness of growth.