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 the 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 are 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) have 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 electricity. 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.
