Joseph Tegbe, minister of power, says the success of Nigeria’s power sector will now be measured by the number of communities and people connected to electricity, rather than megawatts generated.
Tegbe spoke on Friday during the inauguration of the
governing board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in Abuja.
The minister said the agency’s mandate extends beyond
connecting communities to electricity, describing it as a vehicle for expanding
economic opportunities and improving livelihoods.
“We are moving from just counting kilowatts and megawatts to
how many communities and people were powered in the country,” Tegbe said.
“REA is fundamentally an institution for expanding
opportunity.
“Every mini-grid inaugurated, every solar home system
deployed, every market, school, primary healthcare centre, farm or productive
enterprise electrified represents an investment in human capital, economic
inclusion and national prosperity.”
Tegbe said the implementation of the Electricity Act and
ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) had made the
agency’s role even more critical.
He said REA serves as the link between government policy and
grassroots impact by extending electricity access beyond urban centres to
underserved communities across the country.
The minister urged the board to provide strategic direction,
strengthen institutional governance, protect public resources and deepen
partnerships with development institutions and the private sector.
“Most importantly, I encourage you to continually ask one
fundamental question whenever decisions come before the board: ‘How does this
improve the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians?'” he said.
“If that question remains our compass, I have no doubt that
the agency will continue to exceed expectations.”
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 Abba Aliyu, REA’s managing director, and the agency’s three
executive directors complete the board.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Fayose thanked President
Bola Tinubu for the appointment and pledged to support the agency in expanding
electricity access.
He said many of the country’s power challenges are
concentrated at the grassroots, adding that the board would work to mobilise
the resources needed to deliver electricity to more communities.
“Our assignment is beyond providing electricit. It is about
ensuring that Nigerians feel the impact of energy,” Fayose said.
He also promised to work towards securing adequate funding
to enable the agency to implement its short and long-term electrification
programmes.
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