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The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has called for the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle the growing cases of vandalism and energy theft threatening Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he led a delegation from the ministry on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the commission’s headquarters.
The minister said vandalism and energy theft were costing the power sector billions of naira annually, stressing that the ministry lacked the statutory powers to prosecute offenders.
He said, “There are two areas where we need your intervention. One area is vandalism. There is a lot of vandalism going on in this country.
“People are stealing manhole covers and other valuables. The vandalisation is affecting our towers.”
According to him, the Federal Government had directed the ministry to create awareness and prosecute those involved in vandalism, including those stealing and buying vandalised infrastructure, but the ministry could only report offenders to appropriate agencies.
“We believe the commission can help us in that area. We need to collaborate.
“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,” Tegbe told Olukoyede.
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The minister also commended Olukoyede for his achievements in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes and recovery of proceeds of crime, describing the EFCC’s approach as “bold and ambitious”.
Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as revenue fraud, “major concerns and acts of economic sabotage”, pledging the commission’s collaboration with the Ministry of Power.
He said the EFCC would institute Fraud Risk Assessment and Control on the ministry’s projects, including abandoned and new projects, to prevent the diversion of public funds.
“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. We will set up a team to analyse and audit some of the projects,” Olukoyede said.
He further assured the minister of EFCC support in monitoring ongoing projects, stressing that preventive measures must be taken before public funds were stolen.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” the EFCC chairman said.
Tegbe also thanked the commission for its intervention in the legal dispute that stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.
