The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has called for stronger collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat vandalism and energy theft threatening Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe made the call on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when he led a delegation from the Ministry of Power on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The minister said vandalism and energy theft were causing significant financial losses to the power sector, with the country losing billions of naira annually to the activities.
He explained that the Ministry of Power lacked the statutory authority to prosecute offenders, making the intervention of law-enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, necessary.
According to Tegbe, vandalism had extended to critical power infrastructure, including towers, while individuals were also stealing and trading in manhole covers and other valuable components.
He said the Ministry needed the EFCC’s assistance in investigating and prosecuting individuals and organisations involved in economic crimes affecting the power sector.
“There are two areas where we need your intervention. One area is vandalism. There is a lot of vandalism going on in this country,” Tegbe said.
He added that energy theft was another major challenge, alleging that some companies with access to electricity were failing to pay their bills, thereby contributing to huge revenue losses.
The minister also commended Olukoyede for what he described as his achievements in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, as well as the recovery of proceeds of crime.
Tegbe expressed optimism that stronger cooperation between the Ministry and the EFCC would help reduce criminal activities in the sector and support efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
He further appreciated the EFCC for its intervention in the legal dispute that had stalled the 215-megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.
Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as forms of revenue fraud and major acts of economic sabotage, assuring the minister of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry.
The EFCC chairman said the Commission would work with the Ministry to introduce Fraud Risk Assessment and Control mechanisms across its projects, including both abandoned and new projects.
“We are ready to work with you, particularly in the area of incorporating Fraud Risk Assessment and Control to all your projects; both the abandoned ones and the new ones coming up,” Olukoyede said.
He disclosed that the Commission would constitute a team to analyse and audit some of the Ministry’s projects as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and prevent financial losses.
Olukoyede also assured the Ministry of the EFCC’s support in monitoring ongoing projects, stressing the need for preventive measures rather than waiting until funds had been misappropriated.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen, particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” he said.
