Nigeria Customs Clears 98 Containers of Trapped Power Equipment

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the release and evacuation of 98 containers of power equipment that had been trapped at the port for over 20 years. Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this announcement during the flag-off of the evacuation exercise in Apapa on Friday. The cleared consignments include high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear, and other transmission equipment imported through the Federal Ministry of Power and other government agencies.

According to Adeniyi, the equipment was imported for critical power projects but remained uncleared in the ports for between 14 and 20 years. Following a presentation by the Honourable Minister of Power at the Federal Electricity Council, President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate clearance of the equipment. The President also directed relevant agencies to resolve all outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks without delay.

Adeniyi stated that the service has commenced the immediate clearance of over 200 containers of power equipment, with 48 containers released from ENL Terminal and another 50 containers at other terminals in Tincan and other ports to be released. The service is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Nigerian Ports Authority, and other stakeholders to complete this exercise as soon as possible.

The Nigeria Customs Service has deployed facilitation measures, including priority processing of consignments, dedicated officers for joint examination, and the application of approved waivers or charges. Technical experts will inspect the equipment, and serviceable items will be deployed to ongoing and upcoming projects, including transmission corridors and substations across the country. Obsolete items will be disposed of in accordance with extant regulations.

Adeniyi acknowledged the commitment of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, for approving the waivers on the collected charges of this consignment. He warned that contractors who accept government projects, are paid for them, and fail to deliver should be regarded as engaging in economic sabotage, denying Nigerians electricity, jobs, and services.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, stated that the affected containers were acquired for projects intended to expand the country’s transmission network, relieve overburdened substations, and improve the capacity to deliver electricity across the country. The Federal Government is committed to reviving the power sector and completing support for it.

The Nigeria Customs Service urged all ministries, departments, and agencies with consignments at ports to engage with the service so that no project critical to national development is held back at ports or border stations. The service will work with the supervisory ministry and oversight agencies to identify government consignments that remain uncleared under similar circumstances.

Key points

• President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate clearance of the power equipment.
• 98 out of 300 containers of power equipment have been cleared.
• The equipment will be deployed to ongoing and upcoming power projects across the country.