Grid collapse: EFCC goes after contractors in power sector

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has attributed the frequent collapse of the national grid to the use of substandard electric materials supplied by those he described as corrupt contractors in the power sector. 

The anti-graft agency, which also lamented poor implementation and execution of capital projects in the country, explained that Nigeria could not achieve infrastructural or any form of growth under such conditions. 

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of EFCC, disclosed this at the commission’s headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes visited him. 

Daily Trust reports that no fewer than 17 Northern states were thrown into darkness for more than one week following the frequent collapse of the national grid due to attacks on electricity towers by the bandits. 

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Speaking during the visit, the EFCC boss revealed that investigations carried out by the agency showed that contractors in the power sector who were awarded projects to supply electrical equipment often opted for substandard materials. 

This, he said, is the main reason for the unstable power supply in the country, adding that this “dubious” practice was a major cause of frequent equipment failures, outages and grid collapses as it was witnessed recently. 

The anti-graft czar 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 gauge, will go and buy 5.0. Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that, it falters and it collapses. It’s part of our problems.” 

Speaking further, he also said the commission discovered that in the last 20 years, capital project implementation and execution in the country were not up to 20 per cent.