Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Electricity Equipment Containers Held at Nigerian Ports for Up to 20 Years

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate commencement of processes to clear more than 300 containers containing electricity equipment that have remained stranded at Nigerian ports for between 14 and 20 years.

The Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

Tegbe described the prolonged detention of the equipment as “unacceptable,” explaining that outstanding port charges and unresolved customs procedures had prevented their release for years.

According to the minister, Tinubu directed the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to resolve the outstanding issues and facilitate the release of the containers.

He said technical experts would inspect the equipment after clearance to determine which items remained serviceable. Usable materials would be deployed to ongoing electricity projects, while obsolete equipment would be appropriately disposed of.

The directive comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to expand Nigeria’s electricity transmission capacity through proposed East and West Super Grids, which are expected to increase transmission capacity from approximately 5,000 megawatts to 19,000 megawatts within two years.

Tegbe also announced approvals for transmission projects in Abuja, Lagos and the Lagos–Shagamu corridor. The projects include new transmission lines and three 300MVA transformers for the Ikeja West Transmission Substation.

FG Pays ₦1.23trn in Electricity Sector Debts

Addressing the financial challenges facing the power sector, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government had paid ₦1.23 trillion out of the ₦3.3 trillion owed to gas suppliers and other stakeholders.

He noted that the outstanding debts had contributed to gas supply shortages affecting electricity generation across the country.

Meanwhile, construction has commenced on a new National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, to replace the existing facility, which is 64 years old.

The government is also working to energise completed substations in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe as part of efforts to strengthen electricity transmission and improve power supply.

The release of the stranded equipment could provide additional materials for ongoing projects, although its actual contribution will depend on the condition of the equipment and the outcome of technical inspections.