The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and seaport terminal operators to clear all containers of critical electricity equipment that have been stranded at Nigerian ports for nearly two decades, some since 2007.
The minister gave the directive on Tuesday in a statement on the evacuation of stranded power containers posted on his X handle.
President Bola Tinubu had recently directed the Ministry of Power to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority to resolve the issues that kept the equipment at the ports, and instructed the agencies to reconcile outstanding charges so the delays could end.
Last week, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said he has secured the release of transmission equipment that had been stranded at the nation’s ports for up to 20 years.
Mr Tegbe said the first 44 containers were released from the ENL Terminal and another 54 from the APMT and Sun & Moon Terminals, bringing the total to 98 of the over 300 containers held.
The minister explained that the equipment, which includes high-capacity transformers, cables and switchgear, was procured to expand the transmission network and relieve overloaded substations.
He noted that its detention stalled projects, kept existing substations under heavy strain, exposed valuable assets to deterioration and accumulated charges on the cargoes.
On Tuesday, Mr Oyetola directed the NPA and terminal operators to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Power to facilitate the evacuation of all the containers.
“I have directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and seaport terminal operators to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Power to facilitate the evacuation of all the containers of critical electricity equipment that have remained stranded at our ports for nearly two decades, some since 2007,” Mr Oyetola said.
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He said following Mr Tinubu’s directive, all relevant agencies must work in concert to ensure that administrative and operational bottlenecks do not further delay the release of these vital assets.
“Our ports must be facilitators of national development. I have therefore charged the NPA and terminal operators to provide all necessary logistical and operational support to ensure the exercise is completed without further delay.
“We are committed to making our maritime infrastructure more efficient and responsive to Nigeria’s economic and strategic development priorities,” he said.
