EFCC, Power Ministry Move Against Electricity Theft, Vandalism

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Ministry of Power have collaborated against vandalism, electricity theft and other economic crimes threatening sector.

The minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, stated this on Tuesday when he led a delegation from the ministry to visit to the EFCC executive chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Tegbe said vandalism and energy theft were costing the country billions of naira annually, while undermining efforts to improve electricity supply.

According to him, the ministry lacks the statutory powers to prosecute offenders, hence the need for the EFCC to intervene in investigating and prosecuting those involved in the criminal activities.

He said, “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 vandalism 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 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.”

The minister also commended Olukoyede for his efforts in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, as well as the recovery of proceeds of crime.

Tegbe expressed optimism that closer cooperation with the EFCC would help check activities undermining the power sector and support the government’s drive to improve electricity supply.

He further thanked the Commission for its intervention in the legal dispute that stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.

Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and electricity theft as forms of revenue fraud and “major concerns and acts of economic sabotage.”

He assured the minister that the EFCC was ready to collaborate with the ministry to tackle the problems and strengthen safeguards around power-sector projects.

Olukoyede specifically pledged to introduce Fraud Risk Assessment and Control mechanisms across the ministry’s projects, both abandoned and new.

“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 said.

The EFCC chairman also assured the ministry of the Commission’s support in monitoring ongoing projects, stressing that preventive measures must be taken before public funds are lost.

“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” Olukoyede said.

The collaboration is expected to deepen the fight against power-sector fraud, protect critical electricity infrastructure and reduce financial losses arising from vandalism and energy theft.