Nigeria releases more than 300 containers of electrical equipment
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post
Nigeria has ordered the release of more than 300 containers of electrical equipment held at its ports for between 14 and 20 years. The transformers, cables and transmission equipment are to strengthen the national grid, particularly the future Eastern and Western super-grids, according to Energy Minister Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe, cited by Daily Post Nigeria.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of more than 300 containers of electrical equipment that had been held up at the country’s ports for between 14 and 20 years. Energy Minister Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe announced the decision after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, according to Daily Post.
The containers hold high-capacity transformers, cables and switching equipment intended for the national electricity grid. Imported by the government and the Transmission Company of Nigeria for several projects, the equipment remained stuck at the ports of Apapa and Onne, among others. The minister attributed the delays to unpaid port fees, incomplete customs formalities and a lack of coordination between the services concerned.
The delays prevented completed substations, including those at Katampe and Ikeja West, from being energised. Some of the equipment is to be used to expand the grid, particularly the two super-grids intended to achieve a transmission capacity of 19,000 MW, compared with 5,000 MW previously. Nigeria launched these two super-grids on 29 October.
