Former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, says lack of electricity in rural communities is reason behind the people’s early bedtime, limited nightlife and high rate of child birth resulting in increased population growth.
Fayose said this on Friday in Abuja in his speech after his inauguration as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency Board.
The former governor, in a video clip shared by ARISE News on Saturday, said constant non-avalability of power supply in rural communities had limited recreational activities and left residents with little choice but to remain indoors once night falls.
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.”
He added that providing electricity to rural communities would encourage residents to stay out later, promote nightlife and create alternative forms of recreation.
He further stated, “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.”
Fayose’s remarks came as he assumed leadership of the REA board, which is responsible for advancing the Federal Government’s efforts to expand electricity access to underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria.
The former Ekiti governor was sworn in alongside other members of the REA governing board by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
Also inaugurated were Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta as board members, along with three other non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the agency’s Managing Director.
