How corruption crippled Nigeria’s power sector –Report

At the public presentation of the report in Lagos on Thursday, the lead researcher, Dr Yemi Oke, who is an associate professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, said corruption in the electricity sector manifested by way of inflation of contracts, fraud, bribery and misappropriation of funds, among others.

The report titled, ‘Kept in Darkness – Holding Non-Performing Electricity Contractors Accountable,’ the report presented cases of corruption and non-performance in contracts awarded by the Federal Government.

The researchers on page 26 of the report listed contracts it recommended for outright determination or cancellation

It read, “Second Benin-Onitsha 330kv Trx Line Power lines awarded to ABB; Gombe-Yola-Jalingo 330KV Trz Line Consortium awarded to Chrome; Katampe-National Stadium 132KV Trx Line awarded to ABB Powerlines; Umuahia-Mbalano 132 KV Trx Line awarded to Santo Energy; Yola 330/132/33KV S/S awarded to Siemens.

“Umuahia-Ohafia 132KV Trx Line awarded to Harlesden Engineering; Ohafia-Arochukwu 132KV Trx Line awarded to Mogabs Ltd; Mbalano 132/33KV S/S awarded to Union Allied Engineering; Ohafia 132/33KV S/S awarded to Union Allied Engineering; Akure-Ado Ekiti 132KV SC Trx Line and Onitsha 330/132/33KVS/S, both awarded to Siemens.”

The researchers recommended that the bidding and awards of contracts processes and power sector should be streamlined and made more transparent.