President Bola Tinubu has ordered the release of more than 300 containers carrying electricity equipment that have remained stranded at Nigerian ports for up to 20 years.
The equipment has reportedly been held for between 14 and 20 years because of unpaid charges and unresolved customs procedures.
The directive is expected to help recover usable materials for power projects as the Federal Government works to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply.
Minister of Power Olasunkanmi Tegbe disclosed the presidential directive on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja.
Tegbe described the prolonged detention of the containers as “unacceptable.”
He said Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria Customs Service to resolve outstanding issues.
Once released, technical experts will inspect the equipment to determine which materials remain suitable for use.
Serviceable items will be deployed to ongoing electricity projects, while obsolete equipment will be handled appropriately.
The move could support efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure and improve electricity transmission.
The Federal Government is also pursuing the proposed East and West Super Grids to expand the country’s transmission capacity.
The projects are expected to increase capacity from about 5,000 megawatts (MW) to 19,000MW within two years.
Tegbe also announced approvals for transmission projects in Abuja, Lagos and the Lagos–Shagamu corridor.
These projects include new transmission lines and three 300MVA transformers for the Ikeja West Transmission Substation.
The minister said the government had paid N1.23 trillion out of N3.3 trillion owed to gas suppliers and other stakeholders.
He noted that the outstanding debts had contributed to gas shortages affecting electricity generation.
Meanwhile, construction has started on a new National Control Centre in Osogbo. The facility will replace the existing centre, which is 64 years old.
The government is also working to energise completed substations in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe.
The release of the stranded electricity equipment forms part of broader efforts to address infrastructure gaps and strengthen Nigeria’s power sector.
Walahi….. Dem don get us, our pattern every four years