Fayose links rural power shortage to early nights, population growth

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has linked inadequate electricity in rural communities to early bedtimes and increased childbearing, arguing that residents have few alternatives for recreation after nightfall.

Fayose made the remarks in Abuja on Friday after his inauguration as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

The former governor said many rural communities lacked reliable electricity and had limited entertainment or social activities at night, leaving residents to spend most of their evenings at home.

He said, “Why you don’t address this issue of electricity? The people at that level have no alternative attraction. Nothing else matters to them. After 7 o’clock, it gets dark there.

“Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is lack of electricity.”

Fayose argued that improved electricity supply would transform social and economic activities in rural areas by allowing residents to engage in recreation and other activities beyond their homes after dark.

“People go to bed early. Their mind is simply prepared that, well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here.

“But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,” he added.

The comments came as Fayose assumed leadership of the REA governing board, which is responsible for supporting the expansion of electricity access to underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria.

The new board was inaugurated alongside other members, including Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta. Three non-executive directors were also inaugurated, while Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the agency’s Managing Director.

The board is expected to support the Federal Government’s efforts to expand electricity access through renewable energy, off-grid systems and other solutions targeted at communities not adequately served by the national grid.

Beyond household electricity supply, rural electrification has implications for education, healthcare, communications, businesses and evening economic activities.

Fayose’s comments therefore underscored the broader social impact of extending reliable electricity to rural communities, where darkness often limits activities after sunset.

The REA has continued to implement federal programmes aimed at deploying renewable and off-grid electricity solutions as part of efforts to bridge Nigeria’s electricity access gap.