248 containers of power equipments abandoned for 11 years recovered – Minister

Mr Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power on Thursday received 11-years abandoned power equipments from Nigerian Customs services at various bounded terminal ports in Lagos .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Nebo visited some of the bounded terminals where some of the major [power equipments was abandoned for over 11-years.
According to the minister during the flag-off of the release of the abandoned power containers, “ It is my pleasure to address you today, it is a day of joy and gladness at the flag off this very critical event on the release of 248 containers of electrical equipments and power installations.
“This equipments which had been abandoned at various bounded terminals in Lagos since 2003, which most of the containers 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 its staff for making it possible for seeing a day like this,’’ he said.
Nebo said that the power equipmentswhich is surposed to have been used for many projects in the country to improved the eeficiency of power supply had been held for over 11-years
According to him, power projects  that ought to have been  delivered about a decade ago has been stalled for over 11 year.
He  said that the Nigerian Customs was graciously  agreed to release the abandoned 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 equipments which had been ordered by PHCN was fully paid for, and brought into Nigeria and got abandoned in Nigeria.
“This is one of the glorious things about the transformation agenda of Mr President Goodluck Jonathan that has one of the critical soft ware of the transformation agenda for the betterment of the people in maximizing of resources and minimisation of waste.
“This containers could have been remain at the port for ever and nobody would  be bordered but we saw the need to recovered what is rightfully belong to the federal government of Nigeria to the benefit of the general public,’’’ Nebo added.
He said that Federal Government will further investigate the reason for the abandoning of the electricity equipments at the port, adding that such act of abandoning government utility will not occurred again.
“We have synergy with the Nigeria Customs Services  and we are impress  with the understanding of the Nigerian Customs for there mutual corporation with the ministry of Power.
Nebo said that the abandoned equipments are supposed to be delivered at Abo, Nbese substation, Kano Hadejia transmission substations, Obas-Nnewi substation, Danbata substations, Omotosho, Egbin, Aja lines.
Others are Acorn-Ibom 33kva line, Iganga-Ibora substation, Ikorodu Odogunya Ishagamu transmission line , Nsuka- Ayanbas lines and supply of current transformers and capacitors voltage transformers
“The impacts of this can only be imaging this projects has been stalled for all of this years.
“We are going to revamp the projects l have already flag off the projects, all of the containers are going to be taken to the site nobody is going to held it anywhere.
“They are going to be remove the equipments to various locations of the power projects  sites, which means work will commenced in harness  in all power projects site,’’ he said.
The minister however, plea with the customs service to kindly release other abandoned projects like this to the ministry of power, because of accumulated demurrages and charges that cannot be paid should be realise for the betterment of Nigerians.
“The abandoned power equipments which engulfed billion of naira in procuring the equipments should be used and protected judiciously.
In his remarks, Mr Mack Kast, the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) It is special day to Nigerians and members of TCN.
Kast said that the generation and distribution companies had been privitised the transmission company has now major role to play in reviving the power sector.
He said that there are plans under way to ensure adequate refurbishing h 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 we have the capacity to evacuate 20,000 mega watts, which will be a huge development in the power sector. (NAN)