By Joy Onu
The Federal Government has strengthened collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of efforts to address corruption, infrastructure vandalism and accountability challenges affecting the nation’s power sector.
The partnership was reinforced when the Minister of Power, Olasunkani Tegbe, led the ministry’s management team on a visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions explored ways to improve transparency, governance and service delivery in the electricity sector.
A statement issued by Clement Ezeorah, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Power, said the engagement was part of ongoing measures to ensure sustainable reforms in the sector.
Tegbe said stronger accountability mechanisms were critical to achieving improved electricity supply, adding that the ministry was working with the ICPC and security agencies to ensure public resources within the sector were effectively managed.
According to him, the collaboration would support efforts to deliver noticeable improvements in power supply before the end of the year. “ICPC is one of the cardinal institutions we are engaging, alongside security agencies, to deepen transparency and accountability in the sector. We look forward to forging a sustainable and long-term relationship with the Commission,” he said.
The minister said that electricity supply remains a service that requires collective responsibility, stressing that while consumers are expected to pay for power, measures would remain in place to protect vulnerable Nigerians.
Tegbe identified vandalism of electricity infrastructure as a major setback to the sector, estimating that about 30 per cent of the challenges confronting the power industry were linked to the destruction of critical facilities.
He said the ministry was seeking the ICPC’s support to tackle corruption risks, improve oversight and protect investments in the sector.
The minister also said that power generation had exceeded 5,000 megawatts, expressing confidence that stronger institutional cooperation would help sustain improvements and expand access to electricity across the country.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, the commission’s Secretary, Clifford Okwudili Oparaodu, described the partnership as a significant step towards repositioning the power sector.
Oparaodu said reliable electricity supply would contribute significantly to industrial growth, job creation and economic development. He assured the ministry of the commission’s commitment to its mandate of enforcement, corruption prevention and public awareness, warning that contractors and stakeholders handling public resources would be held accountable.
“Through our enforcement mandate, the Commission will ensure that contractors and other stakeholders handling government resources are prevented from defrauding the government,” he said.
The ICPC secretary also urged the Ministry of Power to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on the consequences of vandalising electricity infrastructure, noting that such actions undermine national development and affect consumers nationwide.
