EFCC intervention prevents contractor from fitting inferior power transmission cables, according to Olukoyede

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed on Wednesday that the commission had stepped in to prevent a contractor from the Ministry of Power from using counterfeit and subpar transmission lines for a project in 2024.

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This revelation was made during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Olusegun Adesayo, to the commission's headquarters in Abuja, where Olukoyede received him.

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According to Dele Oyewale, the EFCC's spokesman, the commission's investigation had found that the contractor had imported fake transmission lines, which posed a significant threat to the nation's safety.

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Olukoyede stated that the commission had written to the Ministry of Power in 2024 to blacklist the contractor after confirming the presence of fake and substandard power transmission lines.

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The EFCC boss noted that the commission's intervention had averted a potential disaster and possible loss of lives and property, as the fake transmission lines could have had severe consequences.

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Olukoyede assured the MEMSA delegation that the EFCC was ready to collaborate with the agency to improve electricity supply and ensure compliance with regulations in the power sector.

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The EFCC chairman emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two agencies to improve power supply in Nigeria and ensure that all stakeholders adhere to the industry's rules and laws.

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He also highlighted the EFCC's mandate to cover economic sabotage, including non-financial crimes, and expressed his belief that collaboration would lead to improvements in power supply.

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Olukoyede urged MEMSA to pay special attention to procurement and contract fraud, noting that the EFCC had expertise in these areas that could support the agency's operations.

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Earlier, Adesayo had stated that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen collaboration with the EFCC and ensure safety standards in the power industry, while also reinforcing MEMSA's commitment to transparency and accountability.

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Adesayo explained that MEMSA was responsible for enforcing technical standards and regulations in the electricity sector to guarantee safety, reliability, and quality of electrical cables nationwide.

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He sought the EFCC's collaboration in areas such as intelligence sharing, procurement monitoring, and investigation of substandard electrical materials, as well as contract abuses and regulatory issues.

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Adesayo also requested the EFCC's guidance on strengthening MEMSA's internal control mechanisms and announced ongoing internal reforms to improve probity and align with the Federal Government's anti-corruption agenda.

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The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over the use of substandard materials and procurement irregularities in Nigeria's power sector, which are believed to contribute to poor electricity supply and infrastructure failures.