Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has assumed office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), promising to use his position to improve electricity access across underserved communities in Nigeria.
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The board was inaugurated on Friday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, in Abuja. Other members inaugurated include Ahmadu Abubakar, Ilyasu Makinta and three other members and non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu was inaugurated as the Managing Director of the agency.
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Speaking after his inauguration, Fayose expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence placed in him and the other members of the board.
He said his priority would be to provide the political support needed to move the agency forward and ensure that adequate funding was available for the implementation of its programmes.
Fayose said the board had already commenced work and would move quickly to address challenges affecting electricity supply in rural and underserved areas.
He assured Nigerians that he and the other members would work hard to justify their appointments and contribute to the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the power sector.
According to him, the impact of electricity projects must go beyond the provision of power to homes and businesses and should also improve the lives and economic opportunities of people at the grassroots.
He noted that many of the challenges in the electricity sector were concentrated in rural communities, making the work of the REA important to national development.
The new REA chairman said the board would do everything within its power to ensure that Nigerians benefit from improved access to electricity.
The Managing Director of the agency, Abba Aliyu, also thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and pledged that the REA would continue working to extend electricity to communities that are either underserved or completely without access.
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Earlier, the Minister of Power said Nigeria’s electricity sector was gradually moving away from measuring progress only through the amount of power generated or distributed.
Tegbe said the focus was now shifting toward the number of communities and Nigerians who gain access to reliable electricity.
He described the REA as a key institution in achieving this goal because its responsibilities cover the expansion of electricity access beyond major urban centres.
The minister said every mini-grid project, solar home system, electrified school, healthcare centre, market, farm and productive business could improve economic opportunities and strengthen communities.
He said the implementation of the Electricity Act and ongoing reforms in the power sector had further increased the importance of the agency.
Tegbe described the REA as a link between national electricity policies and their impact at the grassroots, stressing that the benefits of power sector reforms must reach communities across the country, including those in remote areas.
He said the inauguration of the new board reflected the administration’s commitment to improving governance, accountability and performance within public institutions.
The minister charged the board members to provide effective policy direction, protect public resources, promote transparency and pursue partnerships with development agencies and private investors.
He also urged them to ensure that the agency delivers measurable results and provides value for money.
Tegbe advised the board to make the welfare and economic progress of ordinary Nigerians the central consideration in all its decisions, saying this would help the REA achieve its mandate and deliver lasting benefits to communities across the country.
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