The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has started removing 248 containers of Independent Power Project (IPP) equipment imported by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2003.
Nebo, who was at the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on a ‘thank you’ visit yesterday, expressed appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi, for obliging TCN’s request to clear the containers which should have long been forfeited to Customs.
TCN is one of the successor PHCN companies.
The NCS is empowered to seize goods which stay at the ports for more than 180 days. Such goods would usually be seized, moved to government warehouse and auctioned to the public.
“We wish to express our profound gratitude to the CGC and his staff for the release of 248 containers of electrical implements, equipment and instruments of all sorts that has been at the port from seven to 11 years. These equipment were ordered and fully paid for by PHCN but were abandoned at the port,” he said.
Nebo said some of the projects that should have been completed in Kano, Shagamu, Nnewi, Epe stations among others about a decade ago were stalled because the equipment were abandoned. He said said the Ministry of Power would probe circumstances behind the abandonment.
“Part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President is to maximize resources and minimize waste, otherwise these containers would have remained here forever and nobody would bat an eye but we saw the need to recover what rightly belong to the government and put in use for the benefit of the people,” he stated.
He however pleaded with the NCS management to ensure the release of other government cargoes that may have been abandoned at the port.
The Minister was received by the Deputy Controller Austin Ogbe on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Charles Edike.
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