The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed how the commission prevented a contractor from installing substandard transmission lines during power projects in 2024. The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
According to the statement, Olukoyede made the revelation when the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (MEMSA), Olusegun Adesayo, paid a courtesy visit to the commission’s corporate headquarters on Wednesday. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss collaboration between the EFCC and MEMSA in ensuring the delivery of safe and reliable electricity infrastructure across the country.
Oyewale explained that the EFCC intervened after it became aware that a contractor, mobilised by the Ministry of Power, was executing a contract using fake and substandard transmission lines. “The contractor was investigated by the EFCC and found to have imported fake transmission lines, which could have posed danger to the entire nation,” the statement said.
Following the investigation, the EFCC wrote to the Ministry of Power recommending that the contractor be blacklisted to prevent future contracts. Olukoyede noted that the intervention saved the nation from potential disasters, including loss of lives and destruction of property, that could have resulted from the installation of unsafe power infrastructure.
“This intervention by the commission safeguarded national interests and prevented possible catastrophic consequences from the deployment of substandard electricity transmission lines,” the statement added.
Olukoyede assured the MEMSA delegation of the commission’s readiness to continue working with the agency to strengthen Nigeria’s electricity sector. He emphasised that cooperation between anti-graft agencies and regulatory bodies is critical to ensuring that contractors adhere to safety standards and that public funds are utilised responsibly.
The EFCC chairman further highlighted the importance of proactive measures in identifying and stopping fraudulent or substandard contracts before they are executed, noting that such vigilance protects citizens and preserves national assets.
The statement concluded by reiterating the EFCC’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to promote transparency, accountability, and safety in the execution of power projects, ensuring that all infrastructure meets the required standards for the delivery of reliable electricity to Nigerians.
