Eleven years after 248 container loads of various categories of power transmission equipment were abandoned by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at various seaports across the country, the Federal Government yesterday resolved to launch a probe into what it tagged a “waste of national asset.”Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, stated this in Lagos while taking delivery of the power equipment at the Apapa Port, Lagos. He pledged that the perpetrators of the act would be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

A visibly troubled Nebo said the probe had become imperative because the development led to several stalled power projects across the country.

The development, he said, could have been responsible for the poor state of power supply and the frequent system breakdown often experienced by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He said, “we will investigate what led to the abandonment of 248 containers and ensure that no such thing occurs again in the sector. The impact of these equipment can only be imagined when the projects is revitalised. All of these containers will be removed from where they were held and moved to site immediately,” he said.

He lauded the resolve of the leadership of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for graciously approving the release of the items to the management of TCN.

“Customs should kindly ensure that all government containers are released despite the demurrage charges and associated costs they may have incurred,” he noted.

The 248 containers contained electrical materials imported by the management of the PHCN since 2003 for some critical power projects while few of them were imported in the year 2007.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TCN, Mr. Mack Kast, stated that the company has massive plans to expand the transmitting capacity of the power sector.

TCN is the only successor company from the PHCN that was not privatised but concessioned to Manitoba Hydro International to manage the entity as a privately owned company despite being funded by the Ministry of Power.

“Our goal is to double the transmission network of the company. I wish to thank the Ministry of Power and the Directorate of Procurement for making this possible,” he said.