By Michael Eboh

The Federal Government, yesterday, secured the release of 248 containers of power equipment trapped in the ports for about 11 years.

Speaking during a visit to the ports to flag off the release, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the containers, which were abandoned at different ports and port facilities, have stalled a number of power projects across the country.

Specifically, he said the trapped containers stalled 11 power projects across the length and breadth of the country, such as the Ikorodu/Odogunyan/Shagamu project and the supply of transformers and capacitor voltage project to power stations in the country.

He noted that a number of the projects have been abandoned for about 13 years, why the least stalled project was seven years.

He said: “These containers could have remained at the ports forever and nobody would be bordered. But we saw the need to recover what rightfully belongs to the Federal Government to the benefit of the general public.”

He commended the Customs and Excise Department of the Federal Government and the Customs Service for facilitating the release.

“The NCS agreed to release the containers to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, who initially carried out the transaction, but now represented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

“These equipments were ordered, fully paid for and later abandoned at the ports for a minimum of seven years.”

He said Federal Government will carry out an investigation to identify the reasons for the abandonment, to forestall the recurrence of similar incident in the future.

He further stated that the release will help in minimising costs, considering the fact that the various consignments cost much more today than the cost at which they were initially purchased.