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Former Ekiti State Governor and newly appointed Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ayodele Fayose, has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities to rising population growth, arguing that darkness leaves residents with limited recreational options at night.
Fayose made the remarks after his inauguration as REA chairman, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu alongside 25 other heads of federal agencies and commissions in July 2026.
According to the former governor, many rural communities become inactive after nightfall because of the absence of electricity and other forms of entertainment.
He argued that the situation encourages residents to retire to bed early, joking that men may resort to spending more time with their wives because there are few alternatives for recreation.
“Why don’t you 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,” Fayose said.
“Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is lack of electricity,” he added.
Fayose said improving electricity supply in rural communities would encourage nightlife and provide residents with alternative recreational activities outside their homes.
“People go to bed early. Their mind is simply prepared that, well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here,” he said.
“But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,” the REA chairman added.
Fayose’s comments come as he assumes responsibility for an agency tasked with expanding access to electricity in underserved and rural communities across Nigeria.
