After about 11 years of prolonged protocols and bureaucracy, the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday finally released the 248 containers of equipment meant for the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) to the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo.
After about 11 years of prolonged protocols and bureaucracy, the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday finally released the 248 containers of equipment meant for the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) to the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo.
At the official handing-over of the containers at the Apapa port in Lagos yesterday, Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde, who was represented by Zone 'A' Coordinator, Mr. Victor Gbemudu noted that the cargoes are being released in consonance with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
While receiving the equipment on behalf of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (formerly PHCN) the Power Minister, Professor Chinedu Nebo appreciated the customs Comptroller General for the release of the containers, even as he acknowledged that the containers had been held at the port since 2002.
Prof. Nebo assured that the ministry is already carrying out an investigation into why the cargoes were abandoned at the port after they were procured with billions of Naira by the government for the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)
He pointed out that the abandonment has stalled the power project of the government which were being carried out in more than 11 states of the Federation.
"Most of these containers have been held for 7 to 11 years, we have inspected some of them and some of the oldest have been in the port since 2003"
"We express our profound gratitude to CG for making it possible today, the power project was stalled by overstay of these containers, but the Customs service has graciously agreed to release it to the TCN", he stated.
He lamented that the equipment presently scattered at Apapa Port, Onne and other ports around the country had been ordered by the defunct PHCN, fully paid for and abandoned in the ports for many years.
Speaking further, the minister said that: "The containers could have remained here forever and nobody will bat an eyelid, but we saw the need to recover what rightfully belongs to the government of Nigeria and put it to use for the benefit of our people"
"We have synergised with customs and we are impressed with the confidentiality between customs and power ministry", he added.
The minister who promised to revamp the NIPP projects, assured that the evacuation process of the abandoned containers has already commenced.
"I have flagged this off by watching and being on the machine with the Permanent Secretary that loaded the first container on trucks taking it to site. They will be taken directly to site and work will begin in earnest" he assured.
He pleaded with Customs to ensure that other government containers held in its custody for many years as a result of accumulated demurrage and clearing cost be released to the government for the betterment of Nigeria.
"We will investigate why the abandoning of the 248 containers bearing goods that government had imported through PHCN had been abandoned so that such doesn't occur again" he stressed.
Also speaking, Managing Director of TCN, Mr. Mac Kast assured that the equipment will be used to refurbish the power sector.
"It is our expectation that By 2020 we will have capacity to produce 20,000 megawatts of power and this will be a huge leap forward for Nigeria and the president in reforming the power sector" he said.
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