By Mercy Aikoye
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and terminal operators to facilitate the immediate evacuation of electricity equipment that has remained stranded at the nation’s seaports for nearly two decades.
The directive is aimed at removing operational and administrative bottlenecks delaying the clearance of hundreds of containers of critical power equipment, some of which have been at the ports since 2007.
Oyetola, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, said the NPA and terminal operators must work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Power to ensure the equipment is released without further delay.
The minister’s intervention follows a presidential directive to clear the long-abandoned cargoes, which are considered critical to electricity infrastructure development in the country.
He said the successful implementation of the presidential order would require effective collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the clearance process.
Oyetola consequently directed the NPA and terminal operators to prioritise the provision of logistics, cargo positioning and handling arrangements necessary to facilitate the evacuation exercise.
“Mr President’s directive is clear, and our responsibility is to ensure its effective implementation. NPA and terminal operators are to give this assignment the highest priority, work seamlessly with Customs and the Ministry of Power, and provide every necessary operational support to achieve the desired result,” he said.
The minister said the development underscored the need for Nigerian ports to function as strategic gateways for economic growth, industrial expansion and infrastructure delivery rather than become holding points for cargoes required for critical national projects.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to improving port efficiency, reducing cargo dwell time and addressing institutional challenges that undermine the smooth movement of goods through the nation’s seaports.
Oyetola urged all relevant agencies and port stakeholders to sustain efforts towards the timely execution of the presidential directive, describing effective coordination as essential to preventing further delays in the delivery of critical infrastructure.
