THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has blamed corruption by contractors in Nigeria’s power sector for the incessant national grid collapse.
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 12, when members of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes visited him.
According to him, the level of corruption in the Nigerian electricity supply industry is capable of illuminating tears.
The ICIR reports that in the last week alone, the national grid collapsed two times, throwing the country into darkness.
In 2024 alone, the national grid collapsed about 11 times with energy experts projecting further collapse before the year runs out.
In his remarks, the anti-graft boss said contractors in the power sector purchased inferior materials to execute their contracts, which is the reason for the frequency grid collapses.
“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 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.”
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), in several statements, blamed vandalisation and insecurity for the frequent grid collapse.
Similarly, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, blamed insecurity and obsolete transmission infrastructure for the country’s national grid collapse.
The Ministers confirmation of obsolete grid raises further questions about huge spendings on transmission infrastructure largely funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“Investments should be made in development or expansion of National Power Grid System Infrastructure. More so, conscious efforts should be made to acquire new ones or maintenance of those that have been subjected to wear and tear, “a power sector governance expert and the President of Power Consumers Network told The ICIR.
The frequent outages have heightened frustrations nationwide, with businesses, households, and essential services struggling under the country’s unreliable electricity supply.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.