Tinubu, gridlock on the docks and Nigeria’s energy sector

President Bola Tinubu final week ordered the fast clearance of over 300 containers of electrical energy tools stranded at Nigerian ports some for 14 to twenty years.

The Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe disclosed after the FEC assembly on the State House.

Not empty containers. They are crucial grid infrastructure, high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and different transmission tools meant to strengthen the nationwide grid.

Minister Tegbe mentioned, “Those containers are not empty containers. It is appalling to see that we find ourselves in such situations.”

They had been imported by the Federal Government by means of the Ministry of Power/Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) beneath varied energy initiatives over time together with NIPP (National Integrated Power Project), TCN donor-funded initiatives, and Presidential Power Initiative tools.

The Minister confirmed these high-capacity transformers have to be manufactured overseas as a result of Nigeria lacks the specialised industrial capability to provide tools of that specification. So they had been imported from producers in China, Germany and different international locations.

They had been meant for transmission growth and grid stabilisation nationwide, the brand new East and West Super Grids to lift transmission from 5,000MW to 19,000MW and ppgrades alongside Lagos-Enugu-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridors. Because of this, substations like Katampe, Ikeja West, and plenty of others that had been accomplished however by no means energised. The 20 years delay was as a result of pure administrative failure and wickedness.

According to the Minister, the delays had been attributed to earlier administrations failing to settle excellent port costs and full routine customs procedures together with unpaid costs at NPA, icomplete customs clearance at Nigeria Customs Service, no coordination between Ministry of Power, NPA and Customs. Equipment simply deserted at Apapa, Onne and different ports whereas Nigeria was in darkness

Some containers have been there since 2006-2012 period Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari administrations. We paid for tools, borrowed cash for it, then left it to rot at port and saved paying demurrage.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR ordered Ministry of Power to work with NPA and Nigeria Customs Service to clear all costs. Technical specialists will open and audit every container to test what remains to be usable and what’s out of date after 20 years. Usable tools shall be deployed to ongoing initiatives, out of date ones disposed of.

Honestly, this explains why we now have 13,000MW technology capability however can solely transmit 5,000MW. The tools to hold the ability has been locked on the port for 20 years whereas we maintain nationwide prayers for mild.

Unlocking these containers is a welcome and long-overdue step, however true progress will solely be measured by how shortly this important tools is deployed to mild up properties, energy industries, and completely break the cycle of darkness.

Olawumi is a public commentator.