FG APPROVES INDEPENDENT POWER PROJECTS FOR APAPA AND ONNE PORTS — RELIEF FOR IMPORTERS AND LOGISTICS FIRMS

FEC-approved projects target dedicated electricity supply at Nigeria's two busiest commercial ports

 The Federal Government has approved two independent power projects specifically designed to supply dedicated electricity to the Apapa and Onne port complexes, the Federal Executive Council confirmed this week, in a move that targets one of the most persistent and costly operational problems facing businesses that clear cargo through Nigeria's primary ports.

The FEC approval covers independent power projects at Apapa Port in Lagos, Nigeria's largest container port, and Onne Port in Rivers State, which handles a significant volume of oil and gas cargo as well as general imports. The projects are designed to provide dedicated, independent power to both complexes, reducing dependence on the national grid and eliminating the generator-reliance that has been a significant component of port operating costs.

For Nigerian importers, exporters, logistics companies, and clearing agents, the approval addresses a bottleneck that has contributed directly to high port clearing costs. Businesses operating in and around Apapa regularly face extended delays and elevated costs attributable to unreliable power. Cold chain storage facilities, scanner operations, office infrastructure, and loading equipment all require reliable electricity, costs that are currently passed through the supply chain to importers and their customers.

The Apapa power project also complements the recent JICA-funded upgrade of the Apapa Road Transmission Substation from 60MVA to 180MVA capacity, announced by the Transmission Company of Nigeria in April. Combined, the two interventions represent the most significant simultaneous investment in Apapa's power infrastructure since the port's current operations were established.

No contractor or timeline has been publicly announced for either project.