President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Ministry of Power to begin immediate actions to release more than 300 containers of electricity equipment that have been stuck at Nigerian ports for as long as 20 years, with the goal of salvaging usable assets for the national grid.
Key facts:
- The containers have been detained for between 14 and 20 years due to unpaid fees and incomplete customs clearance.
- Minister of Power Olasunkanmi Tegbe announced the directive after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
- The President ordered the Ministry to cooperate with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service to settle outstanding charges.
- Technical experts will inspect the equipment to decide which items can be redeployed.
- The government also approved procurement for East and West Super Grids to raise transmission capacity from about 5,000 MW to 19,000 MW within two years.
What did the President direct?
Tinubu’s order requires the Ministry of Power to work closely with the NPA and NCS to clear all pending dues, reconcile any discrepancies, and physically free the containers. He emphasized that the prolonged detention was unacceptable and that swift resolution would help alleviate chronic transmission bottlenecks.
How will the equipment be evaluated?
According to Tegbe, once the containers are cleared, a team of technical specialists will assess each piece of machinery. Items judged to be in good condition will be integrated into ongoing power projects, while obsolete or damaged gear will be disposed of or recycled in line with environmental guidelines.
What other power initiatives were approved?
The Federal Executive Council gave the green light to three major transmission projects:
- Construction of a 33 kV double‑circuit line linked to the Katampe Transmission Substation in the North‑Central zone.
- Supply of three 300 MVA, 330/132/33 kV transformers for the Ikeja West Transmission Substation serving Lagos.
- Upgrade of the 35.6‑km Itumola‑Mapasin‑Shagamu 132 kV line to a double‑circuit configuration to meet rising demand along the Lagos‑Shagamu corridor.
What is the status of the Super Grid programme?
The administration has authorised procurement for the proposed East and West Super Grids, projects designed to link strategic corridors from Sokoto through Abuja to other regions. The aim is to expand transmission capacity to 19,000 MW within a two‑year horizon, thereby improving grid resilience and accommodating future load growth.
How is the broader power sector being audited?
The Ministry of Power launched a nationwide technical audit four weeks ago, dividing the country into three energy zones: Lagos and its industrial corridor; the Abuja‑Kaduna‑Kano axis; and the Enugu‑Onitsha‑Benin zone. Findings will guide investment priorities and identify ageing or under‑performing assets for rehabilitation.
What financial steps have been taken?
Tegbe disclosed that the federal government has paid ₦1.23 trillion of the ₦3.3 trillion owed to gas suppliers and other power‑sector stakeholders, a move intended to ease gas supply constraints that have hampered electricity generation.
What reforms are under consideration for grid management?
The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to separate system operations from transmission asset management by strengthening coordination between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO). He also mentioned plans to invite greater private‑sector participation in managing power assets.
What about renewable energy and other projects?
Fourteen federal universities now operate solar mini‑grids ranging from 1 MW to 5 MW, with an additional eleven institutions benefitting through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. Five teaching hospitals are also receiving solar installations in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health. Moreover, construction has begun on a new National Control Centre in Osogbo to replace the 64‑year‑old facility, enhancing real‑time grid monitoring.
Overall, the immediate priority is to resolve customs and port clearance issues, evaluate the condition of the stranded equipment, and determine how best to incorporate usable assets into Nigeria’s power infrastructure overhaul.