The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said the success of Nigeria’s power sector should no longer be judged mainly by the volume of electricity generated, but by the number of communities and Nigerians who gain access to reliable electricity.
Tegbe made this known on Friday, August 7, in Abuja while speaking at the inauguration of the governing board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The minister said the agency’s mandate goes beyond connecting communities to electricity, describing the REA as a critical institution for expanding economic opportunities, promoting inclusion and improving livelihoods across the country.
“We are moving from just counting kilowatts and megawatts to how many communities and people were powered in the country,” Tegbe said.
He noted that every mini-grid installed, solar home system deployed and market, school, healthcare facility, farm or productive enterprise connected to electricity represents an investment in human capital, economic inclusion and national development.
According to him, the implementation of the Electricity Act and ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry have further strengthened the importance of the REA in expanding access to electricity.
Tegbe described the agency as a vital link between government policy and grassroots development, particularly in taking electricity beyond major urban centres to underserved and rural communities across the country.
He charged the newly inaugurated board to provide strategic leadership, strengthen institutional governance, protect public resources and deepen partnerships with development institutions and private-sector organisations.
The minister also urged the board to ensure that its policies and decisions remain focused on improving the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians.
The seven-member board is chaired by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose. Other non-executive members are Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta, while REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, and three executive directors complete the board.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Fayose thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and pledged the board’s commitment to expanding electricity access across the country.
He observed that many of Nigeria’s power challenges are concentrated at the grassroots, promising that the board would work to mobilise the resources required to connect more communities to reliable electricity.
“Our assignment is beyond providing electricity. It is about ensuring that Nigerians feel the impact of energy,” Fayose said.
He further pledged to pursue adequate funding to support the agency’s short- and long-term electrification programmes, stressing the need for sustained investment to ensure that electricity access translates into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
