FG Orders Evacuation of Power Equipment Stranded at Ports Since 2007

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate evacuation of hundreds of containers carrying critical electricity equipment stranded at Nigerian seaports for nearly two decades. President Bola Tinubu directed that the containers, some of which have reportedly been at the ports since 2007, be released without further bureaucratic delay.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, gave the operational directive to the Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators. They are to work with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Power to clear the consignments.

Oyetola moves to clear port bottlenecks

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola said the presidential directive must receive urgent attention from all agencies involved. He instructed the NPA and terminal operators to prioritise cargo positioning, handling arrangements and other logistical requirements needed for the evacuation.

"Mr. President's directive is clear, and our responsibility is to ensure its effective implementation," the minister said.

Oyetola added that port operators must work closely with Customs and the Ministry of Power so the exercise is completed without further delays. He said effective coordination among government agencies and private terminal operators would determine the success of the clearance exercise.

According to the minister, prolonged cargo delays undermine port efficiency and could affect the delivery of important infrastructure projects. He maintained that Nigerian seaports should serve as gateways for economic development rather than storage facilities for equipment required for national projects. Oyetola also reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to reducing cargo dwell times and improving operational efficiency across maritime facilities.

Power equipment details remain unclear

The government has not disclosed the exact number of containers involved, their estimated value or the specific power projects for which they were originally imported. It also remains unclear whether equipment stored for nearly two decades will require technical assessments before installation.

The development comes amid persistent electricity supply challenges across Nigeria, where households and businesses continue to experience outages and disruptions. The release of the containers could help advance electricity infrastructure projects, depending on the condition of the equipment and how quickly it can be deployed.

The government has yet to announce a definite timeline for completing the evacuation or deploying the recovered equipment to electricity projects.

Separately, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has acknowledged a significant reduction in electricity supply affecting households and businesses across four states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory. In a statement released on Friday, November 6, 2026, Tegbe said three separate problems combined to worsen the situation.

What it means for consumers and businesses

For Nigerian households and businesses, the port evacuation is only a first step. The relief will depend on the condition of the equipment and how quickly it is moved into power projects, not just cleared from the ports.