Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has attributed part of Nigeria’s population growth to the lack of electricity in rural communities, saying darkness after 7pm leaves residents with limited options for nighttime recreation.
Fayose made the remarks in Abuja on Friday after he was inaugurated as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
According to him, inadequate electricity supply in rural areas forces many residents to stay indoors once night falls, with some turning to marital intimacy as one of the few available forms of recreation.
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.”
The former governor argued that improved electricity supply could transform social life in rural communities by supporting businesses, entertainment and other nighttime activities.
Fayose added that access to electricity would give residents alternatives to staying at home early every evening.
“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 said.
Fayose assumed leadership of the REA board alongside other newly inaugurated members.
The board members were sworn in by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe. Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta were also inaugurated as board members, while three other non-executive directors joined the governing board.
Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the Managing Director of the agency.
The Rural Electrification Agency is responsible for implementing government initiatives aimed at expanding electricity access to underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria.
