FG begins clearing power equipment stranded at ports for over a decade

 Relief may be on the horizon for electricity consumers as the Federal Government begins clearing hundreds of containers of power equipment stranded at Nigerian ports, some since 2014, for possible deployment to critical electricity infrastructure projects.

Federal Ministry of Power has secured the release of the first 44 containers from Apapa Port, Lagos, out of more than 300 containers of electrical equipment awaiting clearance. The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said this following the recent Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

According to the Minister, President Tinubu directed the Ministry to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Ports Authority to resolve longstanding administrative and financial bottlenecks responsible for the delays, including the reconciliation of outstanding port charges.

“The release of the first 44 containers represents significant progress in our determination to recover critical power assets and accelerate infrastructure development,” the Minister stated.

Tegbe explained that technical experts would assess the recovered equipment to determine its condition and suitability for deployment, with serviceable assets integrated into ongoing power projects while unserviceable items would be appropriately disposed of.

The development follows earlier recovery efforts by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), under the leadership of Engr. Jennifer Adighije, which reportedly retrieved 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages, saving over ₦30 billion and facilitating the recovery of turbines associated with approximately 470 megawatts of generation capacity.

The latest intervention underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to unlocking stranded public investments, strengthening electricity infrastructure, and addressing bottlenecks affecting power delivery nationwide.

With sustained inter-agency collaboration, the Federal Government aims to convert long-idle equipment into productive assets capable of supporting improved electricity supply to Nigerian homes and businesses.