The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the clearance of 98 containers of abandoned power sector equipment at Nigerian ports, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive last week for the immediate evacuation of more than 300 long-standing containers. The exercise, being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power and other government agencies, began on Friday at ENL Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos, with the release of the first 24 containers.
Another 24 containers at Tin Can Island Port and other locations are expected to be released as the exercise progresses. Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the abandoned consignments contained hydropower equipment, cables, switchgear and other materials imported for electricity transmission and distribution projects being handled by agencies, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
He said the President issued the directive following a presentation by the Minister of Power to the Federal Executive Council, instructing relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks to facilitate the immediate clearance of the equipment.
Adeniyi said Customs had introduced priority processing, dedicated officers for joint examinations and approved waivers on accumulated charges to fast-track the evacuation. He acknowledged the support of the Ministers of Finance and Trade, as well as terminal operators, in facilitating the exercise.
However, he condemned the practice of contractors abandoning equipment imported for government projects at the ports, describing it as a setback to national development. He warned that contractors who received government payments but failed to collect project materials would be identified and held accountable.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said recovering the equipment was critical to strengthening the country’s electricity transmission network and improving power supply. He cited ongoing reforms, including the Electricity Act 2023, the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens Energy, efforts to settle verified legacy debts and expand electricity access to underserved communities, as part of the administration’s drive to reposition the sector.
Tegbe said the abandoned equipment had accumulated substantial port charges, occupied valuable terminal space and delayed vital transmission projects. He disclosed that the materials would be deployed to project sites in Kaduna, Akure and Lafia, among other locations.
Terminal operators and shipping companies pledged their cooperation, but called for better coordination and comprehensive documentation to identify the affected consignments and facilitate their release. APM Terminals’ Government Relations Manager, Adeyinka Akinlade, said the company had generated Terminal Delivery Orders for the identified containers and was ready to facilitate their evacuation.