The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to strengthen efforts against vandalism and energy theft in Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe said the activities were causing significant financial losses and undermining efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
The minister made the request on Tuesday in Abuja when he led officials from the Ministry of Power on a courtesy visit to EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the commission’s headquarters.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, Tegbe said the ministry needed the commission’s assistance because it lacked the statutory authority to prosecute offenders involved in some of the alleged economic crimes affecting the sector.
Tegbe identified the destruction and theft of electricity infrastructure as one of the major areas where he wanted EFCC intervention.
He said valuable components of power infrastructure were being stolen, while vandalism was also affecting electricity towers and other facilities required for reliable power transmission and distribution.
“There are two areas where we need your intervention. One area is vandalism. There is a lot of vandalism going on in this country,” Tegbe said.
He noted that the Federal Government had directed relevant authorities to increase public awareness and ensure that those involved in stealing or purchasing vandalised infrastructure faced prosecution.
However, he said the Ministry of Power could report offenders but did not possess the necessary statutory powers to prosecute them.
“We can only report to you. They can be arrested and prosecuted. We believe the Commission can help us in that area. We need to collaborate,” he said.
The minister also identified electricity theft and non-payment of power bills as another major problem affecting the sector.
Tegbe said some companies and electricity consumers with access to power were failing to pay for the electricity supplied to them, contributing to substantial revenue losses.
“The second area is energy theft. Companies that have access to power do not pay electricity bills. We are losing billions annually. We need your intervention,” he said.
He called for stronger enforcement against activities that deprive electricity providers and the government of expected revenue.
Responding to the request, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as forms of revenue fraud and economic sabotage.
He assured the Ministry of Power that the commission was prepared to collaborate in addressing the problems.
Olukoyede said the EFCC would support efforts to identify financial risks within power projects and develop measures capable of preventing fraud before public funds were lost.
“We are ready to work with you, particularly in the area of incorporating Fraud Risk Assessment and Control to all your projects; both the abandoned ones and the new ones coming up,” he said.
The EFCC chairman disclosed that the commission would establish a team to examine and audit selected power projects as part of its proposed collaboration with the ministry.
According to him, the approach would cover both abandoned projects and new initiatives.
“We will set up a team to analyse and audit some of the projects,” Olukoyede said.
He stressed that fraud prevention should be incorporated into project implementation rather than waiting until funds had already been diverted.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” he added.
Tegbe also praised the EFCC chairman for what he described as his efforts in investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes as well as recovering proceeds of crime.
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The minister described Olukoyede’s approach as “a bold and ambitious approach” and expressed confidence that closer cooperation between both institutions would help protect critical power infrastructure and improve accountability.
The minister further acknowledged the commission’s intervention in a legal dispute that had stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.
He said the ministry appreciated the EFCC’s involvement and expressed optimism that continued cooperation would help remove obstacles affecting important power projects.
The latest engagement between the two institutions comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve electricity infrastructure, protect sector investments and address revenue leakages.
