The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released 98 containers of electricity transmission equipment that had been stranded at Nigerian ports for periods of up to 20 years, in a development expected to support efforts to strengthen the national grid and improve electricity supply across the country.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this in Lagos, revealing that 44 containers were released from ENL Terminal, while another 54 were cleared from APMT and Sun & Moon Terminals.
According to the Minister, the 98 containers represent part of more than 300 containers of electricity transmission equipment that have remained trapped at various ports, delaying critical infrastructure projects and limiting efforts to improve the country’s electricity transmission capacity.
The recovered equipment includes high-capacity transformers, cables and switchgear, which were procured to expand the national transmission network, address overloaded substations and improve electricity distribution across the country.
Tegbe explained that the prolonged detention of the equipment had significantly affected the implementation of power infrastructure projects, leaving several substations under pressure and exposing valuable assets to possible deterioration.
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He said the situation had also resulted in the accumulation of additional charges on the stranded cargoes, creating further financial burdens for the government and other stakeholders.
“The equipment was procured to expand the transmission network and relieve overloaded substations. Its detention stalled projects, kept existing substations under heavy strain, exposed valuable assets to deterioration and accumulated charges on the cargoes,” the Minister stated.
He further noted that the delay in releasing the equipment had contributed to the challenges faced by businesses, households and public institutions, which continue to contend with unreliable electricity supply.
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Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the Service had initiated processes to facilitate the clearance of the containers in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and terminal operators.
Adeniyi explained that the release followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu for the immediate clearance of the stranded equipment, with relevant agencies instructed to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks without unnecessary delays.
He assured the Minister of Power that the Customs Service would sustain its collaboration with the ministry until all the remaining containers were successfully cleared.
The Customs boss also appealed to terminal operators to cooperate with the government in ensuring the prompt evacuation of the equipment.
Meanwhile, the Minister disclosed that an inspection of the recovered materials indicated that most of the equipment remained useful and viable despite spending several years at the ports.
He explained that the items would undergo verification and technical assessment before being deployed, with refurbishment to be carried out where necessary.
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“When evacuated, it will be verified, tested and refurbished where necessary, then deployed to project sites to complete stalled installations, relieve overloaded substations and strengthen constrained transmission corridors,” Tegbe said.
The release of the 98 containers is expected to support ongoing efforts to address transmission infrastructure gaps, although the actual impact on electricity supply will depend on the successful evacuation, testing, refurbishment and installation of the equipment.
The development also brings renewed attention to the challenges associated with prolonged cargo clearance delays and the need for stronger coordination among government agencies responsible for critical national infrastructure.
