President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate clearance of more than 300 containers of electricity equipment that have remained stranded at Nigerian ports for between 14 and 20 years, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve power supply across the country.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
According to the minister, the containers contain equipment originally imported to support Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure but have remained at the ports due to unpaid charges and unresolved customs clearance procedures.
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Tinubu Directs Power Ministry to Clear Stranded Containers
Tegbe explained that the President had instructed the Ministry of Power to work with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to resolve the outstanding issues preventing the release of the containers.
He described the prolonged detention of the equipment as unacceptable, particularly at a time when Nigeria needs additional infrastructure to strengthen its electricity transmission network.
The minister said the government would work with the relevant agencies to settle outstanding obligations and complete the necessary administrative processes to facilitate the clearance.
However, the government will not immediately deploy all the equipment after its release.
Tegbe explained that technical experts would first inspect the contents of the containers to determine which materials were still in good condition and suitable for use in ongoing electricity projects.
Equipment found to be serviceable would be deployed where needed, while obsolete or damaged materials would be appropriately disposed of.
The minister did not disclose the total value of the equipment, the outstanding port charges or a specific deadline for completing the clearance exercise.
FG Targets 19,000MW Electricity Transmission Capacity
The development comes as the Federal Government pursues plans to expand Nigeria’s electricity transmission infrastructure and address persistent challenges affecting the national grid.
Tegbe disclosed that the government was targeting an increase in electricity transmission capacity from approximately 5,000 megawatts to 19,000 megawatts within the next two years through the proposed East and West Super Grids.
He said the projects would strengthen transmission connections across the country and improve the capacity of the national grid to deliver electricity from power generation facilities to consumers.
The Federal Executive Council also approved several transmission infrastructure projects aimed at addressing bottlenecks around Abuja, Lagos and the Lagos-Shagamu corridor.
According to the minister, the interventions are expected to improve grid stability and increase the amount of electricity that can be transmitted across the country.
Government Pays ₦1.23 Trillion Power Sector Debt
In another development, Tegbe disclosed that the Federal Government had paid ₦1.23 trillion out of the ₦3.3 trillion owed to electricity generation companies and other stakeholders in the power sector.
He explained that the accumulated debts had contributed to financial challenges affecting the electricity industry, including difficulties with gas supplies to power generation companies.
The minister said the government was also conducting a technical audit of electricity infrastructure across major energy corridors to identify ageing facilities and determine areas requiring rehabilitation or replacement.
The clearance of the stranded containers, payment of outstanding debts and planned transmission upgrades form part of the government’s broader efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
However, the actual contribution of the recovered equipment to improved power supply will depend on its condition, the outcome of technical inspections and how quickly usable materials can be deployed to ongoing projects.
