By Precious Mark
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has revealed that about 30% of the crippling challenges confronting Nigeria’s electricity sector are rooted in systemic vandalism.
The Minister made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during a familiarisation visit to the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The visit was aimed at building a strong working relationship with the anti-graft agency to clean up corruption, secure critical infrastructure, and improve electricity service delivery across the nation.
“The Ministry requires the Commission’s guidance, support, and partnership in addressing challenges confronting the sector, particularly as it strives to improve electricity generation and service delivery,” Tegbe stated.
He noted that the Ministry currently has several unresolved cases of vandalism and systemic sabotage that require the anti-corruption agency’s guidance to properly navigate enforcement and anti-graft processes.
Despite these setbacks, the Minister highlighted recent progress in national grid performance, stating that electricity generation has recorded vital improvements.
“The Ministry has recorded improvements in electricity generation, with power output now exceeding 5,000 megawatts,” Tegbe said, adding that sustained collaboration with institutions like the ICPC would help secure these operational gains.
“We need people like you with the requisite experience to support us, and we look forward to forging a sustainable and long-term relationship with the Commission,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the anti-graft agency, the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Okwudili Oparaodu, DSSRS, congratulated the Minister on his appointment and welcomed the initiative to plug leakages in the power chain.
Oparaodu acknowledged the painful, persistent power challenges facing ordinary Nigerians but expressed optimism that securing the sector from corrupt elements would unlock massive economic potentials.
“Improved power supply would stimulate industrial growth, create more employment opportunities, and boost national economic development,” Oparaodu stated.
The ICPC boss explained that the commission is uniquely positioned to assist the Ministry, leveraging its three-pronged mandate of enforcement, system prevention, and public education.
He assured the Minister’s delegation that the anti-graft agency would aggressively police resources deployed to the power sector.
“Through its enforcement mandate, the Commission will support the Ministry in ensuring that contractors and other stakeholders handling government resources are held accountable and prevented from defrauding the government,” Oparaodu concluded.