Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has asserted that addressing Nigeria’s power and energy challenges could resolve 77% of the nation’s issues.
Olukoyede emphasized the critical connection between combating corruption and enhancing the power sector, noting that effective solutions in these areas would significantly propel Nigeria’s development.
The EFCC boss made this statement during a courtesy visit from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC led by Managing Director, Engineer Jennifer Adighije, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He urged Adighije to uphold integrity and accountability in her role, reminding her that public service demands transparency and can lead to scrutiny long after one leaves office.
“If you fix power and energy, you have taken care of 77 percent of Nigeria’s problems. Corruption as well, if we get it right, Nigeria will be out of its troubles,” he said.
He lauded NDPHC’s quest for observance of due process and preparedness to strengthen its regulatory compliance and pledged the assistance of the Commission to the company in instances where its contractors fall short in their contractual obligations to it.
“If you have awarded contracts and some people have not performed, or if some of your power stations have been given to certain people to maintain but they have violated financial laws, procurement processes, or other regulations, let us know,” he said, noting that the cooperation between the EFCC and NDPHC would henceforth deter corrupt contractors and instill discipline among them.
Adighije in her response pointed to NDPHC’s commitment to maintaining strict adherence to transparency, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as a desire to forge a cooperation with the EFCC.
“We are here first to familiarize ourselves with the agency and to seek your cooperation while being guided by extant laws and regulations,” she said.
