Tinubu’s Order Paves Way for Release of 300 Power Equipment Containers Stuck at Ports

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun the process of freeing more than 300 containers of electrical equipment stranded at Nigerian ports for between 14 to 20 years after President Bola Tinubu ordered that they be cleared.

Customs Begins to Clear

Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS National Public Relations Officer confirmed that the service had received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance ordering for the items to be expedited. The goods are expected to aid Nigeria's efforts to improve its electricity transmission infrastructure.

"We just want to inform you that we have received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance. We have begun the process of expediting the more than 300 electrical containers that are stranded at Nigerian ports between 14 to 20 years," Maiwada said.

He said he could not give detailed information but confirmed the letter was signed by the Minister of Finance. "We have received a letter, we cannot give detailed information but we have received a letter that has been signed by the Honourable Minister. We have been ordered to expedite the process of these items. We are doing that, we have begun to release the items," he added.

Presidential Order

The release of the items comes after an order from President Tinubu that they be released immediately. The President ordered that the Ministry of Power, NPA and NCS clear the administrative and financial hurdles preventing the release of the equipment.

Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Minister of Power, said during a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Tinubu that the containers were holding materials to aid transmission but had not been cleared as they had not been paid for.

"It is totally unacceptable that we have equipment sitting at our ports for years that was supposed to help increase our grid. The President has ordered that this be sorted out," Tegbe said.

Power Sector Setback

The long delays have been seen as a huge setback to Nigeria's power sector as old transmission infrastructure has prevented the national grid from supplying much electricity to homes and businesses.

Tegbe said some of the containers had sat at the ports for up to 20 years due to previous Governments failing to pay port dues. The release of the equipment is expected to aid efforts to increase transmission capacity but the Customs Service have not given any details as to how many containers will be released immediately.

Source:leadership.ng

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