Customs releases 98 containers of power equipment stranded at Nigerian ports for up to 20 years, following President Tinubu’s directive

The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the release and evacuation of 98 containers of power equipment that had remained stranded at Nigerian ports for between 14 and 20 years, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu to clear the consignments.

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The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Friday in Apapa, Lagos, during the flag-off of the evacuation exercise.

The consignments form part of 300 containers imported for critical electricity projects through the Federal Ministry of Power and government agencies, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

The equipment includes high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other materials required for electricity transmission and related infrastructure projects.

Adeniyi explained that the clearance followed a presentation by the Minister of Power at the Federal Electricity Council, after which Tinubu directed the immediate release of the equipment.

He said the President also instructed relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks delaying the evacuation.

“In line with that presidential directive, this service has commenced the immediate clearance of more than 200 containers of power equipment. Today, I am here with the Honourable Minister of Power to flag off the release of the first 48 containers from ENL Terminal. Another 50 containers at other terminals in Tin Can and other ports will also be released,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs chief said the service was working with the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders to complete the exercise as quickly as possible.

He added that the agency had introduced measures within its mandate to facilitate the process, including priority processing, dedicated officers for joint examination and the application of approved waivers or charges.

Adeniyi disclosed that technical experts would assess the equipment to determine its condition and suitability for use.

Items found to be serviceable would be deployed to ongoing and planned projects, including transmission corridors and substations across the country, while obsolete equipment would be disposed of in line with existing regulations.

He commended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for approving waivers on charges that had accumulated while the consignments remained at the ports.

The Comptroller-General also criticised contractors who imported equipment for government projects but abandoned the consignments without completing the projects for which public funds had been committed.

According to him, such conduct deprives Nigerians of the electricity supply, employment opportunities and other services expected from the projects.

Adeniyi warned that contractors who accepted government projects and received payments without delivering the agreed work should be regarded as engaging in economic sabotage.

He said the Customs Service would work with the supervising ministry and relevant oversight agencies to identify other government consignments that might have remained uncleared under similar circumstances.

The Customs chief stressed that the exercise would not be limited to power-sector equipment, noting that other imports, including donations and consignments brought in by international organisations, could also require attention.

“We are not talking about only power sector equipment. We are talking about so many other imports that are brought into our country. We hear of donations, we hear of items that are brought in by international organisations, by global agencies,” he said.

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He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to revive the power sector and ensure that equipment imported for public projects is put to productive use.