No Light, More Babies, Fayose Blames Electricity Crisis for Population Surge

The Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ayodele Fayose, has attributed part of Nigeria’s population growth to inadequate electricity supply, saying poor access to power leaves people with limited options for recreation at night.

Fayose made the remark at his swearing his as chairman of REA, on Friday, August 7, where he discussed the broader social impact of electricity shortages, particularly in rural communities.

According to him, communities without reliable power supply become inactive after sunset, leaving residents with little choice but to remain indoors.

“When 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,” Fayose said.

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He argued that the absence of nightlife and other forms of entertainment encourages people to stay at home and retire to bed early, with consequences for population growth.

“Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is a lack of electricity,” he said.

Fayose said improved electricity supply would provide communities with more opportunities for social and recreational activities after dark.

“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,” he said.