From David Onuoja, Abuja
Electricity consumers across Nigeria are to get relief soon, as the Federal Ministry of Power has on Friday secured the release of transmission equipment that has been stranded at the nation’s ports for up to twenty years.
Announcing the development through a statement made available to our Correspondent in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the first 44 containers were released from the ENL Terminal and another 54 from the APMT and Sun & Moon Terminals, bringing the total to 98 of over 300 containers held.
The Minister explained that the equipment, which includes high-capacity transformers, cables and switchgear, 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.
He noted that the cost is felt daily by businesses spending more on alternative power, families enduring interruptions and public institutions struggling to maintain essential services.
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Tegbe said the release is in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the cargoes be cleared immediately, crediting the President for the breakthrough and thanking the Ministers of Finance and of Marine and Blue Economy, the Comptroller-General of Customs, and officials of the Ministry of Power and its agencies.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said Customs has begun steps to clear the containers, working with the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators, and pledged to work with the Minister until all the containers are cleared.
Upon inspection, most of the equipment was found to be useful and viable. 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, delivering fewer interruptions, better voltage performance and a stronger network in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
