The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the evacuation of 98 containers of power equipment that had been trapped at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports for as long as 14 years.

The exercise follows the approval of waivers on accumulated charges by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Friday during the flag-off of the exercise in Lagos.

He explained that the consignments include high-capacity transformers, cables, switchgear and other transmission equipment imported for the Federal Ministry of Power and agencies such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Adeniyi said some of the containers had remained uncleared at the ports for between 14 and 20 years.

The first batch of 44 containers is being released from ENL Terminal, while another 54 containers at other terminals, including those at Tin-Can Port, will also be evacuated.

The Customs chief noted that the move is in line with a presidential directive for the immediate clearance of critical power equipment to support the country’s electricity infrastructure.