The Federal Government has secured the release of 98 containers of electricity transmission equipment that had remained stranded at Nigerian ports for as long as 20 years, raising hopes of improvements to the country’s overstretched national grid.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) released the equipment following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to remove administrative bottlenecks and resolve outstanding charges that had delayed the consignments for years.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the development in Lagos, explaining that the release represents an important step towards completing delayed electricity projects and easing pressure on overloaded substations.
Of the 98 containers, 44 were released from ENL Terminal, while another 54 were cleared from APMT and Sun & Moon terminals.
Tegbe said the recovered equipment formed part of more than 300 containers of power infrastructure materials that had been held at the nation’s ports.
Transformers, Cables to Support Electricity Projects
The containers hold high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other equipment procured to expand Nigeria’s transmission network and improve the delivery of electricity to homes, businesses and public institutions.
According to the minister, the prolonged detention of the materials stalled critical projects, placed additional pressure on existing substations and exposed valuable equipment to possible deterioration.
He added that the accumulated port charges had increased the financial burden associated with the delayed consignments.
The minister noted that the consequences of the delay extended beyond government projects, affecting businesses forced to rely on alternative power sources and households struggling with unreliable electricity supply.
Customs Begins Process to Clear Remaining Containers
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the Service was working with the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators to facilitate the evacuation of the equipment.
He explained that the exercise followed the President’s instruction to ensure immediate clearance and resolve administrative obstacles that had prevented the materials from leaving the ports.
Adeniyi pledged continued cooperation with the Ministry of Power until the outstanding consignments were cleared, while urging terminal operators to support the process.
More than 200 containers remain to be addressed, based on the government’s estimate of over 300 stranded containers.
Equipment to Be Tested Before Deployment
Tegbe said an initial inspection indicated that most of the released equipment remained usable.
However, the materials will undergo verification and technical testing, with refurbishment carried out where necessary before they are deployed to designated project sites.
The government expects the equipment to help complete stalled installations, ease congestion at overloaded substations and strengthen transmission corridors facing capacity constraints.
If successfully installed and commissioned, the materials could improve voltage performance and reduce interruptions linked to overloading in affected parts of the network.
The Ministry of Power said it would monitor the process through evacuation, installation and commissioning, while providing updates on efforts to recover the remaining containers.
Although the release marks progress, the equipment’s eventual impact on electricity supply will depend on its condition, successful installation and the completion of the projects for which it was originally procured.
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