Electricity Failure Fuelling High Sex, Childbearing, Population Rates –New REA Chairman Ayo Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor and newly inaugurated Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board, Ayodele Fayose, has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities to early bedtimes and what he described as increased childbearing.
Fayose was on Friday in Abuja inaugurated alongside other members of the REA governing board, including Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta, by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
The REA Chairman argued that the absence of electricity and alternative forms of recreation in rural areas was contributing to population growth, as residents are often forced to remain indoors after nightfall.
According to Fayose, many rural communities have little or no access to electricity, leaving residents with limited options for entertainment and social activities at night.
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.”
Fayose said providing electricity to rural communities would not only improve living conditions but also create opportunities for nightlife and other forms of recreation outside the home.
He added, “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.”
The former Governor’s comments came as he assumed responsibility for helping to advance the Federal Government’s rural electrification agenda through the REA, which is mandated to expand electricity access to underserved and unserved communities across the country.
