Nigeria Clears 98 Containers of Power Equipment After 20-Year Port Delay

Nigeria Clears 98 Containers of Power Equipment After 20-Year Port Delay

Release of stranded transmission equipment expected to accelerate stalled grid expansion projects as efforts continue to secure clearance for more than 200 additional containers.

The Federal Government has taken a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s electricity transmission network following the clearance of 98 containers of critical power equipment that had reportedly remained stranded at the nation’s ports for about 20 years.

The containers reportedly contain essential electrical transmission components required for upgrading substations, reinforcing existing infrastructure and expanding the capacity of the transmission network to accommodate increasing electricity demand.

The prolonged delay in clearing the equipment had reportedly stalled several critical transmission projects, limiting efforts to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure and improve the delivery of power to homes, businesses and industries.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Friday, November 6, 2026, during the flag-off of the evacuation exercise in Apapa, Lagos.

He explained that the 98 containers represented the first batch of more than 300 containers of power equipment that had remained uncleared at Nigerian ports for between 14 and 20 years.

According to Adeniyi, the first 44 containers were released from ENL Terminal, while another 54 containers at other terminals, including APM Terminals and Sun and Moon Terminals, were also scheduled for evacuation.

He said the clearance followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu after the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, presented the challenges associated with the stranded equipment at the Federal Electricity Council.

The President subsequently directed relevant government agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks preventing the release of the consignments.

Adeniyi disclosed that the Customs Service had introduced priority processing, dedicated officers for joint examinations and approved waivers on accumulated charges to facilitate the exercise.

He also commended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for approving the necessary waivers to enable the release of the equipment.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the equipment was originally procured for projects designed to expand Nigeria’s transmission network, reduce pressure on overloaded substations and improve electricity delivery nationwide.

He explained that engineers would verify the inventory, assess the condition of the equipment and conduct necessary technical tests before deployment.

Equipment found to be serviceable would be refurbished where necessary and deployed to ongoing and stalled transmission projects, while obsolete materials would be disposed of in accordance with relevant regulations.

Tegbe disclosed that some of the equipment would be deployed to locations including Kaduna, Lafia, Kwale and other parts of the country.

He noted that the prolonged detention of the materials had prevented critical infrastructure projects from progressing, leaving existing substations to carry loads that new facilities were originally designed to share.

The Customs Service said it would continue working with the Federal Ministry of Power, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders to complete the exercise.

Adeniyi also expressed concern over contractors who allegedly imported equipment for government-funded projects but abandoned the consignments at the ports without fulfilling their contractual obligations.

He warned that such practices undermine national development and deprive Nigerians of essential infrastructure, electricity and employment opportunities. The latest development is expected to provide a boost to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its electricity transmission network.

However, the actual impact on power supply will depend on the condition of the recovered equipment, completion of the affected projects and their eventual integration into the national grid.

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