Oluwatobi Adu 
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede meets Power Minister Joseph Tegbe
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged stronger enforcement against vandalism and electricity theft as it partners with the Ministry of Power to protect critical national infrastructure and reduce revenue losses.
The commitment came on Tuesday when Power Minister Joseph Tegbe led a delegation to meet EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The two sides identified infrastructure vandalism and unpaid electricity consumption as major problems affecting the power sector and costing the country billions of naira.
Tegbe said the ministry needed the EFCC’s intervention because it lacked the authority to prosecute suspected offenders involved in power infrastructure vandalism.
“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 said criminals were stealing manhole covers and other valuables while vandalising electricity transmission 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,” he said.
Tegbe also raised concerns over electricity theft and unpaid bills, saying the problem was depriving the country of significant revenue.
“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.
In response, Olukoyede described the issues as major concerns involving revenue fraud and pledged closer cooperation with the ministry.
“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 said the commission would establish a team to analyse and audit selected power projects.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” Olukoyede said.
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Mirian Gom 
