Customs Releases 98 Stranded Containers of Power Equipment to Strengthen National Grid

Customs Releases 98 Stranded Containers of Power Equipment to Strengthen National Grid

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated the release of 98 containers of stranded electricity transmission equipment following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to remove bottlenecks affecting critical national infrastructure.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Friday, November 6, 2026, during the flag-off ceremony for the release of the equipment at Apapa Port, Lagos.

The first batch of 48 containers was released from the ENL Terminal, while another 50 containers were cleared at Tin Can Island and other ports.

The release is expected to support ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s national grid and expand electricity transmission capacity under the Presidential Power Initiative in partnership with Siemens Energy.

Speaking at the event, Adeniyi explained that some of the imported equipment had remained stranded at the nation’s ports for between 14 and 20 years due to outstanding charges and administrative challenges.

He said the consignments included high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other essential transmission equipment imported through the Federal Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

According to him, President Tinubu directed the immediate clearance of the equipment following a presentation by the Minister of Power at the Federal Executive Council meeting. The President also instructed relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks to facilitate their release.

The Comptroller-General noted that the Federal Government was also addressing other challenges in the power sector, including the settlement of verified legacy debts, closing the metering gap and expanding off-grid electricity supply to underserved communities, universities, markets and hospitals.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the release of the 98 containers out of more than 300 stranded containers as a significant step towards recovering critical equipment needed for ongoing electricity projects.

Tegbe commended the Comptroller-General and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service for their cooperation, noting that their support had helped advance the President’s directive.

He explained that certified engineers had assessed the condition of the equipment and would carry out necessary refurbishment before deployment.

The minister added that all serviceable materials would be allocated to their designated projects based on current network requirements, with priority given to completing abandoned installations, reducing pressure on overloaded substations and strengthening weak transmission corridors.

He described the initiative as part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to address challenges in the power sector through improved grid stability, strategic reforms and measurable progress.

Stakeholders, including terminal operators, shipping companies and technical teams from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, also pledged their support for the smooth transportation of the released equipment to designated project sites.

The development is expected to accelerate stalled electricity projects and contribute to efforts to improve transmission capacity and provide more reliable electricity supply across the country.

Customs Releases 98 Stranded Containers of Power Equipment to Strengthen National Grid