Japan has donated solar energy equipment worth $9.7 million (£7.35m) to Nigeria.

It has been provided by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and is expected to help boost power supply by around 1.2MW at the Usman Dam Water Treatment Plant and reduce strain on the grid.

It will mean the cost of improving the water supply in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory can be reduced.

Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, Nigeria’s Ambassador for Japan, said his country considered Nigeria’s power sector vital to socio-economic development and emphasised the importance of a stable power supply in supporting industry and improving the economy and lives of the people.

Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, added improving core infrastructure and power in Nigeria is one of the priority areas of the agency.

Nigeria is plagued by chronic power shortages, with its 170 million people said to have access to only 4GW of electrical capacity.