The Federal Government has commenced the clearance of long-stranded power infrastructure components, successfully retrieving an initial batch of 44 containers from Apapa Ports in Lagos to address severe electricity disruptions across key states.
​The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, announced the intervention during a media briefing following the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
The 44 retrieved units represent the first phase of an executive drive to recover over 300 containers of critical electrical components that have remained trapped at Nigerian ports since 2014 due to administrative and financial bottlenecks.
​This equipment clearance follows an executive directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandating the Ministry of Power, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigerian Ports Authority to reconcile outstanding port charges and expedite the release of the components.
Specialised technical teams have been deployed to inspect the contents of the newly cleared containers, separating serviceable parts for immediate integration into the national grid infrastructure from non-viable equipment.
The project aligns with broader asset-recovery efforts led by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, under Managing Director Jennifer Adighije, which has independently targeted the retrieval of an additional 110 containers and 216 packages of power equipment.
​The retrieval effort arrives as emergency measures are rolled out to address widespread electricity outages affecting residential and commercial hubs across Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara, and Oyo states.
In an official statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Adeola Adelabu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Power, outlined the government’s response to the crisis.
​Minister Tegbe has ordered the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Nigerian Independent System Operator, and regional Distribution Companies to accelerate restoration work across all affected areas.
Preliminary technical evaluations indicate that the widespread blackouts stem from localised operational bottlenecks rather than a systemic collapse of the national grid.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to minimising downtime, assuring consumers and business operators that technical crews are working around the clock to restore regular power supply.
