Tinubu Orders Release Of Over 300 Stranded Power Equipment Containers

The Federal Government has commenced efforts to clear more than 300 containers of electricity equipment stranded at Nigerian ports following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.

As part of the exercise, 44 containers of electricity equipment have already been cleared from the Apapa Port in Lagos, with some of the items reportedly abandoned at the port since 2014.

The development was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, after the latest Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Tegbe said the clearance followed President Tinubu’s directive to the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to remove obstacles preventing the release of the equipment.

According to the Minister, the successful clearance of the first 44 containers demonstrates that the government’s intervention is already producing positive results.

Tegbe added that technical experts would inspect the recovered equipment to determine which items are still in good condition and suitable for use in ongoing electricity projects.

He said equipment that could no longer be used would be properly disposed of, while serviceable materials would be deployed to support efforts to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure.

The Minister noted that the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to improve the national electricity grid and ensure that more electricity generated across the country reaches homes, businesses and industries.

He stressed that the government was determined to recover valuable electrical equipment already paid for but left unused at the ports, while accelerating the development of infrastructure required to improve power supply.

The latest intervention follows previous efforts by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to recover abandoned electricity equipment.

The company, under the leadership of its Managing Director, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, had earlier recovered 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages of power equipment, resulting in savings estimated at more than ₦30 billion.

The recovery exercise also contributed to unlocking approximately 470 megawatts of electricity for the national grid through the restoration of recovered turbines.

The Federal Government’s latest move is expected to help reduce wastage of public resources, recover valuable electricity infrastructure and support ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s persistent power supply challenges.

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