The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun clearing a 98-container tranche of power equipment after port delays held up materials intended for public transmission projects.
At a Lagos event launching the operation Friday, Nov. 6, Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said the tranche was part of a backlog exceeding 300 containers. Customs officials said some consignments had been held at Nigerian ports for 14 to 20 years.
The shipments include high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other transmission materials procured for projects involving the Federal Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company. The Ministry of Power said the equipment is intended to boost transmission capacity and ease congestion at overloaded substations.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe linked the delays to stalled projects. He said businesses were spending more on alternative electricity. In a Ministry of Power statement, Tegbe also cited household outages and difficulties maintaining public services as consequences of the delays.
Customs said it is using priority processing, dedicated officers for joint examinations and approved waivers. The service linked the clearance to a directive from President Bola Tinubu to resolve outstanding charges and administrative barriers, issued after Tegbe presented the matter to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The start of clearance does not establish how much equipment can be installed. The Ministry said recovered items must be checked and tested and may need refurbishment. Customs said technical specialists will assess the consignments after release. Items found serviceable could be routed to projects already under way or still awaiting completion; obsolete materials would be disposed of.
BusinessDay reported that Tegbe was targeting evacuation of the remaining consignments within a month.
