Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has declared that the success of the power sector will no longer be judged by megawatts generated but by the number of communities and people connected to reliable electricity. He made this statement on Friday, August 7, during the inauguration of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) governing board in Abuja.
New Metric for Power Sector Progress
Tegbe emphasized that the agency's mandate extends beyond simply connecting communities to the grid. He described REA as a key institution for expanding economic opportunities 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. This shift in focus aims to ensure that electrification efforts translate into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians.
REA's Role in Grassroots Development
The minister highlighted that every mini-grid established, solar home system deployed, and market, school, healthcare centre, farm, or productive enterprise connected to electricity represents an investment in human capital, economic inclusion, and national development.
According to Tegbe, the implementation of the Electricity Act and ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry have further increased the importance of REA. The agency serves as a link between government policy and grassroots development by extending electricity access beyond urban centres to underserved communities.
Board Inauguration and Strategic Direction
Tegbe urged the newly inaugurated board to provide strategic leadership, strengthen institutional governance, safeguard public resources, and expand partnerships with development institutions and private-sector organisations. He encouraged the board to ensure its decisions remain focused on improving the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians.
The seven-member board is chaired by Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State. Other non-executive members are Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta, while REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu and three executive directors complete the board.
Fayose's Commitment to Electrification
Speaking on behalf of the board, Fayose thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and pledged to support efforts to expand electricity access across the country. He noted that many of Nigeria's electricity challenges are concentrated at the grassroots and promised that the board would work to mobilise the resources required to connect more communities to electricity.
“Our assignment is beyond providing electricity. It is about ensuring that Nigerians feel the impact of energy,” Fayose said. He also pledged to pursue adequate funding to support the agency's short- and long-term electrification programmes, ensuring that the new focus on community-level impact is realised.
