FG Releases 98 Containers of Power Equipment Stranded for Nearly 20 Years

The Federal Government has secured the release of 98 containers of transmission equipment stranded at Nigerian ports for almost 20 years. The Nigeria Customs Service approved the release on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Power said in a statement by Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe.

The equipment is expected to expand the national grid, reduce pressure on overloaded substations and accelerate stalled power infrastructure projects. The government is working to secure the release of the remaining more than 200 containers.

Customs clears first batch

Tegbe said the equipment was originally procured to expand the transmission network, ease pressure on overloaded substations and improve electricity supply across the country. Engineers will verify and test the equipment before deploying it to relevant project sites.

He said: "For nearly 20 years, over 300 containers of transmission equipment sat stranded at our ports. This equipment was bought to expand the network, relieve overloaded substations and bring more reliable electricity to Nigerians. Yesterday, the Nigeria Customs Service approved the release of the first 98."

Tegbe added: "Our engineers will now verify the equipment, test it and deploy it where it is needed most. That means completing stalled projects, easing pressure on overloaded substations and strengthening the grid. This is a significant first step, and we are working to secure the release of the remaining 200+ containers without further delay."

Inspection finds most equipment viable

An inspection found that most of the equipment was useful and viable. The ministry said the equipment would be verified, tested and refurbished where necessary before deployment. The deployment is expected to help complete stalled installations, ease pressure on overloaded substations and strengthen constrained transmission corridors.

The minister credited Tinubu for approving the release and acknowledged the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele; the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the Comptroller-General of Customs; the Nigerian Ports Authority; terminal operators; and officials of the Ministry of Power and its agencies.

Tegbe said: "We are grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for approving the release. We also thank the Comptroller-General and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Honourable Minister of Finance, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the terminal operators and the TCN team for their support. A stronger grid, one step at a time."

Comptroller-General of Customs Adeniyi said the release followed the President’s directive for immediate clearance and the resolution of outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks. He said the Service had begun working with the Ministry of Power, the NPA and terminal operators to clear the containers. Adeniyi pledged to work with the minister until all remaining containers were released and appealed to terminal operators to support the exercise.

Background

In August 2025, Tinubu directed the expansion of ongoing power infrastructure projects under the Presidential Power Initiative, with implementation planned in three phases. He gave the instruction during a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, the company’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. The PPI was initiated in 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari to address bottlenecks in transmission and distribution networks.

The release of the stranded equipment is expected to support efforts to expand transmission capacity and address infrastructure constraints affecting electricity supply.