FG takes delivery of 248 power equipment containers after 11 years

After 11 years of slumber, the Federal Government suddenly woke up to the reality of taking delivery of 248 containers bearing strategic power components that have been abandoned at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

This is even as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said that it would have capacity to evacuate 20,000 megawatts of electricity by the year 2020.

The inability of the government to take delivery of the containers over these years, analysts say, is a serious indictment on the government and its agencies that are responsible for ensuring smooth operation of the power sector to the benefit of Nigerians.

Taking delivery of the containers on Thursday, Chinedu Nebo, minister of power, raised hopes that there would soon be significant improvements in power supply.

The minister, who received the 248 containers, said with equipment now in possession of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, would be moved straight to the various sites where they would be installed.

He said virtually all the equipment that were ordered by the PHCN were abandoned at the ports between the last 7 to 11 years.

“Virtually all these equipment that are stalled in Apapa Wharf and Onne were fully paid for by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and when they landed in the country, they were abandoned”.

He said the Customs had been gracious enough to agree to release the containers to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, now defunct, which is being represented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He explained that the Federal Ministry of Power has decided to synergise with the Customs in achieving good results by having the containers released.

Some of the projects that have been stalled for 7- 11 years are the Abo Mbaise-Mbu-Idiato substation projects, Kano-Dakata-Hadeija transmission substation, Oba-Nnewi substation project and lines, Danbata substations, Omotsoho-Egbin-Ajah lines, ASCON-Ibom 330kv lines, Ikorodu-Odogunyan-Sagamu transmission lines, and Nsukka-Ayangba line.

Also in some of the containers are current transformers and capacitor voltage transformers.

The minister said the impact of the development in the power sector can only be imagined because these projects have been stalled for all of these years.