The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has sought the partnership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle energy theft and vandalism in the power sector.
Tegbe said the collaboration had become necessary due to the growing incidence of vandalism across the country, with criminals stealing critical infrastructure and other valuable materials, thereby undermining the power sector.
The minister made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he led a delegation from the Ministry of Power on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters.
He said vandalism and energy theft were taking a heavy toll on the sector, resulting in the loss of billions of naira annually and hindering efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
According to Tegbe, the vandalisation of power infrastructure, including towers, poses a serious threat to the stability and efficiency of the electricity supply system.
He said the ministry lacked the statutory powers to prosecute offenders involved in vandalism and energy theft, making collaboration with the anti-graft agency necessary to effectively address the menace.
Tegbe, therefore, requested the Commission’s support in investigating and prosecuting individuals and companies involved in economic crimes that undermine the power sector.
“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 President has charged us to create awareness and also prosecute people, those stealing and buying, but we do not have the power to prosecute offenders. 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,” the minister asserted.
On energy theft, the minister noted that some companies and other electricity consumers with access to power fail to pay their electricity bills, leading to significant revenue losses for the sector.
He said the situation had continued to deprive the power industry of funds that could otherwise be used to strengthen infrastructure and improve electricity supply.
“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 added.
Tegbe commended Olukoyede for his achievements in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, as well as the recovery of proceeds of crime.
He described the EFCC chairman’s approach as “bold and ambitious”, expressing optimism that stronger collaboration between the ministry and the Commission would help curb criminal activities undermining the power sector.
The minister maintained that such collaboration would also complement the government’s efforts to strengthen the sector and improve electricity supply to Nigerian.
Tegbe praised the Commission for its intervention in the legal dispute that had stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State, noting the importance of resolving issues that delay critical power infrastructure projects.
Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as forms of revenue fraud and “major concerns and acts of economic sabotage.”
He pledged the EFCC’s collaboration with the Ministry of Power, particularly in strengthening mechanisms to identify and prevent fraud in power-sector projects.
Olukoyede said the Commission would work with the ministry to introduce Fraud Risk Assessment and Control across its projects, covering both abandoned projects and new ones.
“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,” he stated.
The EFCC chairman assured the ministry of the Commission’s support in monitoring ongoing projects, stressing that preventive measures must be put in place to safeguard public funds before they are diverted.
He stressed that the Commission would adopt a proactive approach to sensitive power-sector projects rather than waiting until funds had been stolen before taking action.
According to him, “We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual.”