The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated the release of 98 containers of electricity transmission equipment stranded at Nigerian ports for years, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to remove critical infrastructure bottlenecks.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the clearance on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a flag-off ceremony in Apapa, Lagos.
The first 48 containers were released from the ENL Terminal, while another 50 were cleared at Tincan and other ports.
Adeniyi said the equipment, comprising high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other transmission materials, had remained uncleared for between 14 and 20 years in some cases.
He explained that the consignments were imported through the Federal Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for critical electricity projects.
According to him, the President directed their immediate clearance after the Minister of Power presented the matter at the Federal Executive Council, instructing relevant agencies to resolve outstanding charges and administrative bottlenecks.
Adeniyi added that the Presidential Power Initiative in partnership with Siemens Energy had been revived to expand electricity transmission capacity nationwide.
He said the administration was also addressing verified legacy debts in the power sector, closing the metering gap and extending off-grid electricity to remote communities, universities, markets and hospitals.
Earlier, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the release of 98 containers out of more than 300 as a significant milestone in efforts to resolve longstanding infrastructure challenges.
Tegbe commended the Customs Service and its leadership for their cooperation, noting that the President recognised their contributions towards improving electricity supply across the country.
He said certified engineers had assessed the condition of the equipment and would undertake necessary refurbishments before deployment.
The minister explained that serviceable materials would be matched with their intended projects and current network requirements, with priority given to completing stalled installations, relieving overloaded substations and strengthening constrained transmission corridors.
Tegbe described the initiative as part of a systematic approach to addressing the power sector’s challenges through grid stability, strategic reforms, incremental improvements and transparent communication with Nigerians.
Terminal operators, shipping companies and TCN management and technical teams at the event pledged to facilitate the seamless movement of the containers to designated project sites.
The stakeholders expressed readiness to support the deployment of the equipment to improve transmission capacity and enhance reliable electricity supply nationwide.
