Customs Releases 98 Containers Of Power Equipment Held At Nigerian Ports For Years

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the evacuation of 98 out of 300 containers of electricity equipment that had remained trapped at Nigerian ports for periods ranging from 14 to 20 years.

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

He said the containers held critical power infrastructure, including high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other transmission equipment imported by the Federal Ministry of Power and government agencies such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria and Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

According to Adeniyi, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate clearance of the consignments after the Minister of Power presented the matter at the Federal Electricity Council. The President also directed relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative challenges delaying their release.

“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 Tincan and other ports will also be released,” Adeniyi said.

He explained that Customs was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN, NDPHC, Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders to complete the exercise.

The agency has introduced measures such as priority processing, dedicated officers for joint examination and the application of approved waivers and charges to facilitate the release of the equipment.

Adeniyi added that technical experts would assess the consignments to determine which items remained serviceable. Equipment suitable for use would be deployed to ongoing and planned projects, including transmission corridors and substations, while obsolete materials would be disposed of in line with existing regulations.

He acknowledged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for approving waivers on charges imposed on the consignments.

The Customs chief also criticised contractors who imported equipment for government projects but abandoned the materials at the ports without completing the projects.

He described the failure to deliver after receiving public funds as economic sabotage, arguing that such conduct deprives Nigerians of electricity, employment and other benefits expected from the projects.

“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,” Adeniyi stated.

He said Customs would work with relevant ministries and oversight agencies to identify other government consignments left uncleared at ports.

“We urge all ministries, departments and agencies with consignments at ports to engage with Nigeria Customs and Border Protection so that no project critical to national development is held back at our ports or at our border stations,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the equipment was acquired for projects designed to expand Nigeria’s transmission network, ease pressure on overloaded substations and improve the country’s electricity distribution capacity.