The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pointed fingers at corrupt contractors in Nigeria’s power sector for the frequent collapse of the National Grid.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made this revelation during a visit from the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes at the commission’s Abuja headquarters on Tuesday.
Olukoyede expressed that the level of corruption in the Nigerian electricity supply industry is alarming, citing the grid’s collapse twice in the last week and at least twelve times in 2024 alone.
“As I am talking to you now, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears,” he said.
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The EFCC chair emphasized that contractors’ use of inferior materials is a primary cause of the grid collapses.
“People who were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment, instead of using what they call 9.0 gauge, they will go and buy 5.0. Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that falters, and it collapses. It’s part of our problems.” he noted.
However, the Transmission Company and Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, attribute the grid collapse to vandalization, insecurity, and outdated transmission infrastructure.
This development comes after Nigeria has invested heavily in the power sector, with billions spent since 2015, yet the country continues to experience frequent blackouts.
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Last modified: November 13, 2024
