EFCC power line intervention in 2024 stopped fake transmission lines, averting potential disaster and protecting lives in Nigeria’s electricity sector

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intervened in 2024 to halt a contractor mobilised by the Ministry of Power from executing a project using fake and substandard transmission lines, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed on Wednesday.

Also read: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict Over N12M Theft

Olukoyede made the revelation while receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Olusegun Adesayo, during a courtesy visit at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede said the contractor had imported transmission lines that posed significant risk to national safety.

“In 2024, we had cause to write to the Ministry of Power to blacklist a contractor when we investigated and confirmed that he imported fake and substandard power transmission lines for the execution of a contract given to him,” he explained.

The EFCC chairman emphasised that the commission’s timely intervention prevented potential disaster and possible loss of lives and property.

He also assured MEMSA of EFCC’s readiness to collaborate to improve electricity supply and ensure compliance with regulations in the sector.

“We believe that we can work together to improve electricity supply in Nigeria and to ensure that all the key stakeholders in the industry play according to rules and laws guiding the industry,” Olukoyede said.

“Our mandate covers economic sabotage, not only financial crimes.”

Olusegun Adesayo stated that the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration with the EFCC to guarantee safety standards in the power sector.

He said MEMSA enforces technical standards and regulations to ensure safe, reliable, and quality electrical infrastructure nationwide.

Adesayo further requested EFCC’s support in intelligence sharing, procurement monitoring, investigation of substandard materials, contract abuses, and regulatory compliance, alongside public sensitisation and capacity building.

“Effective regulation and anti-corruption enforcement are very important. We want a coordinated effort to safeguard all our public infrastructure and natural resources,” he said.

Also read: EFCC Strengthens Support for Female Officers on Women’s Day

The disclosure underscores growing concerns over substandard materials and procurement irregularities in Nigeria’s electricity sector, issues widely regarded as contributors to poor power supply and frequent infrastructure failures.