The Nigeria Customs Service has released 98 containers of electricity equipment that had been stranded at the country's ports for between 14 and 20 years.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced this on Friday during the flag-off of the evacuation exercise in Apapa, Lagos.
The containers are part of more than 300 consignments of power equipment imported for government projects but left uncleared at the ports.
The equipment includes high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other materials meant to expand Nigeria's electricity transmission network.
Adeniyi said President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate clearance of the equipment following a presentation by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, at the Federal Electricity Council.
“In line with that presidential directive, this service has commenced the immediate clearance of more than 200 containers of power equipment,” he said.
He added that the government had directed relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative problems delaying the release.
Adeniyi said the Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, approved waivers on accumulated charges to facilitate the exercise.
He also accused some contractors of importing equipment for government projects and abandoning the consignments at the ports without completing the projects.
“Contractors who accept government projects, are paid for them and fail to deliver should therefore be regarded as engaging in economic sabotage,” he said.
Earlier, Tegbe said the equipment was procured to expand the transmission network, reduce pressure on overloaded substations and improve electricity delivery.
He explained that technical experts would inspect the equipment, while serviceable items would be deployed to ongoing projects across the country.
The minister said some of the equipment would be sent to locations including Kaduna, Lafia and Kwale.
Obsolete materials, according to Customs, would be disposed of in line with existing regulations.
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