Fayose: Provide Nigerians with power, and they will devote less energy to having children

Ayodele Fayose, the former Governor of Ekiti State, has established a link between the scarcity of electricity in rural communities and the tendency for residents to retire to bed early, as well as a surge in population growth.

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This correlation was highlighted by Fayose after his inauguration as Chairman of the governing board of the Rural Electrification Agency, with his remarks captured in a video shared by ARISE News on Saturday.

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Fayose emphasized that the absence of electricity in rural areas has resulted in a lack of alternative recreational activities at night, leaving residents with limited options.

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He stated, "Why don’t you address this issue of electricity? The people at that level have no alternative attraction, and after 7 o’clock, it gets dark there, leading to increased engagement with their spouses and a subsequent rise in population.

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Fayose argued that an improvement in electricity supply would enable rural residents to spend more time outdoors and explore recreational activities beyond the confines of their homes.

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He noted that the early bedtime routine of rural residents is a result of the limited recreational options available, with their minds prepared to settle for the only available form of entertainment.

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Fayose predicted that addressing the electricity issue would give rise to nightlife and outdoor recreational activities, providing alternatives to staying at home.

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The former governor made these comments as he took the helm of the REA board, which is tasked with the responsibility of expanding electricity access to underserved and unserved communities nationwide.

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Fayose was inaugurated into his new role by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, alongside other governing board members, including Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta.

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Additionally, three non-executive directors were also inaugurated, while Abba Aliyu was formally appointed as the Managing Director of the agency.