The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has attributed Nigeria’s persistent power outages to rampant corruption within the power sector.
During a visit by the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to the EFCC headquarters, Olukoyede revealed that the commission’s ongoing investigation into the sector has uncovered shocking instances of fraud and corruption.
He expressed deep concern over the practice of contractors supplying substandard electrical equipment, which significantly contributes to frequent equipment failures, power outages, and grid collapses. Olukoyede hinted that the full extent of corruption within the sector would be a cause for national outrage.
Olukoyede said, “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.
“People who were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment, instead of using what they call 9.0 guage, they will buy 5.0.
“So, every time you see the thing tripping off, gets burnt, and all of that, It’s part of our problems.”
He also revealed that during its investigations, over the past 20 years, only a meager 20% of capital projects in Nigeria have been fully implemented. He emphasized that such a low implementation rate hinders the country’s progress and prevents the realization of crucial infrastructure and development goals.
“We discovered that in the last 15 to 20 years, we have not done up to 20 per cent of our capital project implementation and execution.
“And if we don’t do that, how do you want to have infrastructural development? How do you want to grow as a nation?
“So our mandate this year is to work with that directorate and with the National Assembly to see if we can meet up to 50 per cent of execution of our capital project for the year.
“If we do 50 per cent, we will be fine as a nation. The lack of implementation of this capital project, capital budget, is one of our major problems in Nigeria.
“If we can tackle that effectively, we will make progress as a nation. So we are doing everything to see how we can achieve that with your support.”
The EFCC is currently grappling with a staggering number of corruption cases. Olukoyede disclosed that the commission has received over 17,000 petitions and is currently investigating over 20,000 cases.
He said, “We have several cases filed in court, apart from the conviction, running to thousands.
“In the last year, we have received over 17,000 petitions in EFCC. And right now, as I’m talking to you, we are investigating over 20,000 cases.
“Between last October and now, we have opened over 4,800 new cases. And what is our staff spread? We are less than 5,000 and now, with the additional responsibility of over 700 MDAs, 36 states, 774 local governments, and all of that.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Obinna Onwusibe, called on the EFCC to work closely with the judiciary to expedite the trials of corruption suspects. This move aims to reduce the number of individuals awaiting trial and ensure swifter justice.
He said, “At this point, let me add that recently, on oversight visits to the maximum and minimum correctional centres in Kirikiri, Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year, and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied.
“It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the judiciary to improve and ensure that the administration of criminal justice works in collaboration for an effective and efficient system that will bring about justice delivery to victims and society.”
He also urged the EFCC to ensure transparency and accountability in its operation.
“The negative maxim being peddled in certain quarters is that the agency is often being used to settle political scores, and this must be corrected by the EFCC,” he said.
