Fayose: Night-time Blackouts Encouraging Nigerians to Have More Children

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities, particularly during nighttime, to the rising population in Nigeria. Fayose made this observation after he was inaugurated as the Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). As one of 26 newly appointed heads for 10 Federal Government agencies and commissions by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2026, Fayose highlighted the issue during a video shared by ARISE News on its X handle.

In the video, Fayose explained that the absence of electricity forces residents, particularly men, to retire early and engage their wives due to limited recreational options at night. He argued that addressing Nigeria's electricity challenges would encourage nightlife and provide alternative activities that would discourage people from spending time indoors with their spouses. Fayose questioned why policymakers focus solely on financial strategies instead of tackling the fundamental issue of electricity.

He emphasized that once the electricity problem is resolved, people will have options for outdoor recreation beyond staying with their wives. Fayose concluded that addressing electricity issues would promote a vibrant nightlife and help reduce population growth by encouraging people to engage in activities outside their homes.