Tokyo  - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday that Japan would double official development aid (ODA) to Africa to 1.8 billion dollars for the next five years through 2012.

Through the aid, Japan intends to help African nations develop infrastructure, improve maternity health care, increase food productivity and secure safe drinking water, Fukuda was quoted as saying Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting.

Fukuda's announcement came ahead of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to be hosted by Japan from May 28 to 30 in central Yokohama city.

"We have agreed on this ambitious initiative to support African development at TICAD," Fukuda said to express Japan's commitment to expanding aid, which would be provided in grants and yen loans.

Japan is eyeing resources in African nations and support for its bid for a permanent membership on the UN Security Council, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said. (dpa)