KEY POINTS
- Nigeria’s EFCC says corrupt contractors using inferior materials are behind frequent national grid collapses.
- Nigeria’s grid has collapsed 12 times in 2024, with two outages in the past week.
- Power Ministry cites outdated infrastructure and security issues as additional causes for Nigeria’s grid instability.
Corruption in Nigeria’s power sector, especially involving contractors who deliver substandard materials, is responsible for the country’s repeated national grid collapses, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed the findings Tuesday while addressing the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Contractors’ subpar materials cause Nigeria’s power failures
Olukoyede revealed that contractors supplying materials for the electricity sector often replace specified equipment with cheaper, less durable versions, leading to frequent infrastructure failures.
“We are grappling with electricity issues, and if you see some of the investigations we are conducting in the power sector, you would shed tears,” he said, describing how subpar materials cause recurring power outages as equipment trips and burns out.
Grid collapses continue amid material concerns
Nigeria’s national grid has failed twelve times in 2024, including two incidents last week, leaving large areas of the country without electricity.
The EFCC’s latest findings point to faulty contracts and low-quality materials as contributors to the outages, as contractors reportedly ignored specifications for critical components like wiring and switches.
The EFCC’s comments add another layer to the national dialogue surrounding Nigeria’s unreliable power supply.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu have cited other issues, such as vandalism, security challenges, and outdated infrastructure, as significant causes of grid instability.
