Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has linked poor electricity supply in rural communities to early bedtimes, limited nightlife and what he described as rising population growth.
Fayose made the controversial remark after his inauguration as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency board, arguing that residents in communities without electricity have few alternatives for recreation after nightfall.
In remarks circulated by ARISE News, Fayose said many rural residents return home early because darkness sets in, leaving them with little to do outside the home.
“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,” he said.
Fayose said improved electricity supply would not only transform economic activity but also encourage nightlife and provide residents with alternative forms of recreation.
“But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,” he added.
The former governor’s comments came shortly after he assumed leadership of the REA board, placing the issue of rural electricity access at the centre of his new federal role.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Fayose chairman of the REA board in July alongside other appointees to federal agencies and commissions.
The REA is responsible for expanding electricity access to underserved and unserved communities, with a growing focus on decentralised renewable energy, mini-grids and solar power solutions.
The agency has recently intensified its intervention in rural communities. In June, it commissioned a 505kWp interconnected solar mini-grid serving five communities in Epe, Lagos State, with the project designed to provide electricity for households, businesses and public institutions.
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has also said rural electrification must go beyond simply providing household connections. According to him, electricity should support agriculture, businesses, healthcare, education, industrial activity and job creation.
The minister has pledged significant improvement in electricity supply before the end of the year, as the Federal Government continues efforts to address the structural challenges affecting the power sector.
Fayose’s population argument, however, is not supported by evidence establishing electricity shortages as a direct cause of higher fertility.
Nigeria’s population is growing rapidly. Current 2026 estimates put the country’s population at about 242.4 million, while its fertility rate remains comparatively high.
Population growth is influenced by several factors, including fertility, age structure, access to education and healthcare, family-planning services, mortality and migration.
Still, Fayose’s remarks highlight an often-overlooked dimension of electricity access. Reliable power can extend productive hours, support small businesses, improve security and allow communities to remain economically and socially active after sunset.
For the new REA board, the bigger challenge will be turning that argument into measurable improvements in electricity access for millions of Nigerians living in underserved communities.
