Darkness after 7pm making Nigerians have more children — Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities to early bedtime, limited nightlife and increased population growth.

 

Fayose made the remarks on Friday in Abuja after his inauguration as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency.

 

In a video shared by ARISE News on Saturday, the former governor said the absence of electricity in rural communities had restricted recreational activities and left residents with few alternatives 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 argued that improving electricity supply would encourage residents to stay out later, promote nightlife and provide alternative forms of recreation.

 

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.”

 

Fayose spoke 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.

 

He was sworn in alongside other members of the REA governing board by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

 

Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta were also inaugurated as board members, alongside three other non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the agency’s Managing Director.