The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intervene in the fight against vandalism and energy theft, which he said are costing Nigeria’s power sector billions of naira annually.
Tegbe made the request on Tuesday in Abuja when he led a delegation from the Ministry of Power on a courtesy visit to EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, the minister said vandalism of electricity infrastructure and energy theft were undermining the power sector.
He added that the Ministry of Power lacked the statutory authority to prosecute offenders and therefore needed the EFCC’s support in investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities allegedly involved in economic crimes affecting the sector.
Tegbe Flags Power Infrastructure Vandalism
Tegbe identified vandalism as one of two major areas where he wanted the EFCC’s intervention.
He said valuable infrastructure, including manhole covers, was being stolen, while vandalism was also affecting power transmission towers.
“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.”
The minister said the Federal Government had directed the ministry to create awareness and prosecute those involved in stealing and buying vandalised infrastructure.
However, he said the ministry could only report offenders to relevant law enforcement agencies.
“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,” Tegbe said.
Minister Raises Energy Theft Concerns
Tegbe also identified energy theft as another major challenge affecting the sector.
He alleged that some companies with access to electricity were failing to pay their bills, resulting in significant 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.
The minister said stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the EFCC would help address activities undermining the electricity sector and support efforts to improve power supply.
Tegbe also thanked the EFCC for its intervention in the legal dispute that stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.
EFCC Pledges Collaboration
Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as revenue fraud and “major concerns and acts of economic sabotage”.
The EFCC chairman pledged the commission’s collaboration with the Ministry of Power to address the problems.
He said the commission would introduce Fraud Risk Assessment and Control mechanisms across the ministry’s projects, including abandoned and new projects.
“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 also assured the ministry that the EFCC would support the monitoring of ongoing projects, stressing the importance of preventing fraud before public funds were lost.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” he said.
The proposed collaboration places greater emphasis on investigating alleged economic crimes, strengthening financial controls and monitoring power-sector projects as the government seeks to address losses linked to infrastructure vandalism and energy theft.
