Trapped 98 containers of power equipment released by Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the release and evacuation of 98 out of 300 containers of power equipment that had been trapped at the ports for over 20 years.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced this in Apapa on Friday during the flag-off of the evacuation exercise.

Adeniyi said the consignments included high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other transmission equipment imported through the Federal Ministry of Power and government agencies, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

He said equipment imported for critical power projects had remained uncleared at the ports for years, with some consignments stranded for between 14 and 20 years.

Adeniyi explained that following a presentation by the Minister of Power at the Federal Electricity Council, President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate clearance of the equipment.

He added that the President also directed relevant agencies to resolve all outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks without delay.

“In line with that presidential directive, this service has commenced the immediate clearance of more than 200 containers of power equipment. Today, I am here with the Honourable Minister of Power to flag off the release of the first 48 containers from ENL Terminal. Another 50 containers at other terminals in Tin Can and other ports will also be released,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss said the service was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Power, the TCN, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders to complete the exercise as soon as possible.

He said the service had deployed all facilitation measures within its mandate, including “priority processing of consignments, dedicated officers for joint examination, the application of approved waivers or charges that are approved during the period when the goods remain out there.”

Adeniyi said technical experts would inspect the equipment, adding that serviceable items would be deployed to ongoing and upcoming projects, including transmission corridors and substations across the country, while obsolete items would be disposed of in accordance with existing regulations.

He acknowledged the commitment of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for approving waivers on the charges accrued on the consignments.

Adeniyi maintained that some contractors awarded government projects had imported equipment but abandoned them at the ports without executing the projects for which public funds had been committed.

He warned that such conduct denied Nigerians the electricity, jobs and services the projects were meant to deliver.

The Customs chief said contractors who accepted government projects, received payments and failed to deliver should be regarded as engaging in economic sabotage.

He added that the service would work with the supervisory ministry and relevant oversight agencies to identify government consignments that remained uncleared under similar circumstances.

“We are not talking about only power sector equipment. We are talking about so many other imports that are brought into our country. We hear of donations, we hear of items that are brought in by international organisations, by global agencies,” Adeniyi stated.

He said the service remained committed to the Federal Government’s efforts to revive the power sector and ensure the completion of the projects the equipment was meant to support.