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

Olukoyede made the disclosure in Abuja while receiving the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Olusegun Adesayo, who paid him a courtesy visit at the commission’s headquarters.

According to a statement by EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC boss said the contractor was investigated by the EFCC and found to have imported fake transmission lines that could have posed danger to the nation.

“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 said.

He added that the intervention prevented a potential disaster and possible loss of lives and property.

“This intervention by the Commission saved the nation from a potential disaster and possible loss of lives and valuables, ” he said.

Olukoyede assured the MEMSA delegation of the EFCC’s readiness to collaborate with the agency to improve electricity supply and ensure compliance with regulations in the power 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 the rules and laws guiding the industry. I believe that when we do this, we will see some improvement in the power supply in Nigeria. Our mandate covers economic sabotage, not only financial crimes,” he said.

The EFCC chairman also urged the agency to pay special attention to procurement and contract fraud, noting that the commission has competence in those areas that would support its operations.

Earlier, Adesayo said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the EFCC to ensure safety standards in the power industry and reinforce the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

He noted that MEMSA was mandated to enforce technical standards and regulations in the electricity sector to guarantee safety, reliability, and quality of electrical cables nationwide.

Adesayo sought EFCC’s collaboration in intelligence sharing, procurement monitoring, investigation of substandard electrical materials, contract abuses, and regulatory issues, as well as public sensitisation and capacity building.

“We recognise that effective regulation and anti-corruption enforcement are very important; we want a coordinated effort to safeguard all our public infrastructure and natural resources. We also seek your guidance on strengthening our internal control mechanisms,” he said.

He also assured the EFCC of ongoing internal reforms in MEMSA to improve probity and align with the Federal Government’s anti-corruption agenda.

The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over substandard materials and procurement irregularities in Nigeria’s power sector, which stakeholders say contribute to poor electricity supply and infrastructure failures. (The PUNCH)

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