Kunle Kalejaye 25 July 2014, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo has recovered 284 containers of power equipment that had been abandoned at the Lagos ports for 11-years from the Nigerian Customs Services
The minister took delivery of the containers at various bounded terminal ports in Lagos.
The abandoned equipment were meant for delivery at various projects sites across the country and were meant specifically foe Abo, Nbese substation, Kano Hadejia transmission substation, Oba-Nnewi substation, Danbata substations, Omotosho, Egbin and Aja lines.
Others were meant for Akwa-Ibom 33kva line, Iganga-Ibora substation, Ikorodu Odogunya Ishagamu transmission line , Nsukka- Ayangba lines.
It was also gathered that if properly installed, these equipment would have improved power supply in the country, but they were unfortunately abandoned.
Nebo, at the bounded terminals, said: “It is my pleasure to address you today. It is a day of joy and gladness at the flag off of this very critical event on the release of 248 containers of electrical equipments and power installations.
“These equipment which had been abandoned at various bounded terminals in Lagos since 2003, had been held since 7 to 11 years ago.
“We have inspected some of them, we wish to expressed our most profound gratitude to the Controller- General of Customs, and his staff for making it possible, seeing a day like this”.
The minister said the Customs graciously agreed to release the containers to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, which was represented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Nebo said that virtually all the equipment which was ordered by PHCN was fully paid for, and brought into Nigeria and got abandoned.
Recovering the equipment and power installation, according to the minister, was part of the transformation agenda of the current administration in the power sector to maximise resources and minimise waste.
“This containers could have remained at the port forever and nobody would have bordered, but we saw the need to recovered what rightfully belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria to the benefit of the general public.
”We have synergy with the Nigeria Customs Services and we are impressed with the understanding of the Nigerian Customs for there mutual co-operation with theMinistry of Power,” Nebo said.
He explained that the equipment would be used to revamp various stalled projects in the power sector.
“We are going to move the equipment to various locations of the power projects sites, which means work will commenced in earnest in all power projects site,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Mr Mack Kast, the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, said the recovery of the equipment was special to Nigerians and members of TCN.
Kast said that though the power generation and distribution companies had been privatised, the transmission company now had a major role to play in reviving the power sector.
He said that there are plans to ensure adequate refurbishing of the power sector through massive expansion of network.
“It is our goal to double the evacuation capacity of TCN. It is our expectation that by year 2020 TCN will have the capacity to evacuate 20,000 mega watts, which will be a huge development in the power sector,” he said.
