Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, on Wednesday said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the disbursement of funds for the clearing of about 218 containers of power equipment stranded at various sea ports in Nigeria.
Fashola, who was represented by Dr. Tambuwal Atiku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Transmission company of Nigeria said:
“In Mr. President’s effort to give a stable power supply to every Nigerian, he has graciously approved the disbursement of funds for the clearing of stranded containers containing power equipment and materials at various terminals, so as to improve power delivery to every Nigerian.”
The projects, he said, also include, “construction of 2X60 megavolt-ampere (MVA), 132/33kv Substation at Odogunyan and construction of 2X60MVA, 132/33kv substation at Ayobo, Ikeja West Ayobo 132kv Direct current (DC) transmission lines and 2X132 line bays extension at Ikeja west.
“Others are construction of Kaduna-Jos 330KV DC line, in Plateau and Kaduna State, as well as, the installation of 1X60MVA and 1X39MVA 132/33kv power transformers, auxiliary equipment and device at GCM transmission Substation in Onitsha, and construction of 330kv D/C Kaduna power plant Mando substation Transmision line.”
Mr Daniel Asuquo, Chairman House of Representatives on Power said:
“We have taken into consideration when these containers will be delivered, and off course we will review the timing base on the deliverable we are expecting.
“The Federal Government has negotiated release for more than 300 containers of power equipment, the actual payment to the shipping companies to the terminal operators is 218.
“Duncan terminal is one of the terminals that has the largest numbers of containers, holding 77 containers, other terminals have the balance of the remaining figure which have already been negotiated and paid for.
“The total negotiation in question when actual payments are out should be a little above N1billion. They have saved N2billion, because the total cost of releasing more than 300 containers is over N3.5 billion.”
