The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has sought the EFCC’s intervention in investigating and prosecuting offenders behind vandalism and energy theft in the power sector.
Tegbe made the request in Abuja on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when he led a delegation from the Ministry on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters.
The minister said vandalism and energy theft were costing the power sector billions of naira annually, while the ministry lacked the statutory powers to prosecute those involved.
He urged the EFCC to support investigations and prosecution of individuals and companies involved in activities undermining the 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.
According to him, the theft of public infrastructure, including manhole covers and other valuables, was also affecting power transmission towers.
“People are stealing manhole covers and other valuables. The vandalisation is affecting our towers. The President has charged us to create awareness and also prosecute people (those stealing and buying) but we do not have the power to prosecute offenders. We can only report to you,” he said.
“They can be arrested and prosecuted. We believe the Commission can help us in that area. We need to collaborate.”
On energy theft, Tegbe said some companies with access to electricity were failing to pay their bills, leaving the country with huge financial losses.
“The second area is energy theft. Companies that have access to power do not pay electricity bills. We are losing billions annually. We need your intervention,” he said.
Tegbe also commended Olukoyede for his “achievements in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes”, as well as the recovery of proceeds of crime, describing the approach as “a bold and ambitious approach.”
He expressed optimism that closer cooperation between both agencies would help tackle criminal activities affecting the power sector and support efforts to improve electricity supply.
The minister also thanked the EFCC for its intervention in the legal dispute that stalled the 215-Megawatt Kudendan Power Plant project in Kaduna State.
Responding, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as revenue fraud and “major concerns and acts of economic sabotage”, pledging the EFCC’s cooperation with the Ministry of Power.
He said the Commission would introduce Fraud Risk Assessment and Control across the ministry’s projects, including 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. We will set up a team to analyse and audit some of the projects,” Olukoyede said.
He further assured the ministry that the EFCC would support the monitoring of ongoing projects, stressing the need for preventive measures against financial crimes.
“We must not wait till monies are stolen particularly on sensitive projects. It is not going to be business as usual,” he said.