Electricity consumers across Nigeria are expected to benefit from a stronger and more reliable power grid following the Federal Ministry of Power’s successful efforts, led by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, to secure the release of transmission equipment that had been stranded at the nation’s ports for up to 20 years.
Announcing the development at a media briefing in Lagos, Tegbe said the first 44 containers had been released from the ENL Terminal, while another 54 were released from the APMT and Sun & Moon Terminals, bringing the total number of recovered containers to 98 out of more than 300.
The Minister explained that the equipment, which includes high-capacity transformers, cables and switchgear, was procured to expand the transmission network and ease pressure on overloaded substations.
The release followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the cargoes be cleared immediately. Tegbe and the Comptroller-General of Customs subsequently swung into action, working to secure their release.
The Minister credited the President for the breakthrough and expressed appreciation to the Ministers of Finance and Marine and Blue Economy, the Comptroller-General of Customs, as well as officials of the Ministry of Power and its agencies for their contributions.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the release followed the President’s directive for the immediate clearance of the containers and the resolution of outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks without delay.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service had commenced steps to facilitate the clearance of the containers in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators.
He pledged to work closely with the Minister until all the containers were cleared and appealed to terminal operators to support Nigeria’s important national objective.
Following an inspection, most of the equipment was found to be serviceable and viable.
Once evacuated, the equipment will undergo verification and testing and will be refurbished where necessary before being deployed to project sites to complete stalled installations, ease pressure on overloaded substations and strengthen constrained transmission corridors.
As these projects become operational, they are expected to reduce interruptions caused by overloading, improve voltage performance and strengthen the network’s capacity to deliver electricity to homes, businesses and essential public services.
Tegbe assured Nigerians that the Ministry would monitor the recovery process through installation and commissioning, provide updates on the remaining containers and ensure that their release was secured without further delay.
By recovering equipment that had remained idle for years, the government is translating policy into improved electricity supply and turning promises into tangible progress that Nigerians can experience in their homes, shops and workplaces, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
