CurrentReport Blog The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has identified corruption among contractors in Nigeria’s power sector as a major factor behind the recurring national grid collapses. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede highlighted the issue during a visit from the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes at the commission’s Abuja headquarters on Tuesday.
Olukoyede revealed that contractors supplying electrical equipment often use substandard materials, which has led to multiple grid collapses. He cited instances where contractors, awarded contracts to provide robust infrastructure, opted for inferior materials, leading to frequent failures in the national grid. “If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears,” he remarked.
The EFCC’s findings come amid a year of repeated grid collapses, with at least twelve incidents in 2024 alone, leaving much of the country in darkness. The Transmission Company of Nigeria and Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, have also attributed these issues to vandalism, insecurity, and outdated infrastructure.
As the EFCC continues its investigations, the agency is calling for stricter oversight to ensure quality compliance in Nigeria’s power sector, aiming to address systemic corruption and improve the country’s electricity reliability.
