Former Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ayodele Fayose, has sparked reactions after linking Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges to population growth.
Fayose made the remarks while discussing the broader social consequences of inadequate electricity supply in the country.
According to him, unreliable power supply forces many Nigerians to remain indoors after dark.
It limits their entertainment and recreational options and encouraging people to go to bed earlier.
He suggested that this situation could contribute indirectly to population growth because married couples have fewer alternative recreational activities at night.
“When you don’t address the issue of electricity, by 7 o’clock it gets dark, and people start engaging with their wives, so the population doubles,” Fayose said.
He argued that the issue was not simply about electricity for domestic and industrial use but also about the availability of social and recreational activities after sunset.
‘There Will Be Nightlife’
Fayose said improved electricity supply would transform evening activities by allowing businesses, entertainment venues and other recreational facilities to operate for longer hours.
He stated: “The simple problem is that, because there is no electricity, people go to bed early.
“Their minds are already prepared that, well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here.”
He added that addressing the country’s electricity problems would create more opportunities for nightlife and entertainment.
“But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife,” Fayose said.
The former governor argued that people living in communities affected by inadequate electricity often have limited alternatives for evening recreation.
“When you don’t address this issue of electricity, the people at that level have no alternative attraction,” he said.
Remarks Spark Mixed Reactions
The comments have generated mixed reactions.
Some Nigerians interpret Fayose’s remarks as a blunt and unconventional explanation of the wider social consequences of electricity shortages.
Others have questioned the logic of directly linking electricity supply to population growth.
They argue that demographic changes are influenced by numerous economic, cultural, educational and health factors.
The remarks nevertheless draw attention to a longstanding national challenge.
Nigeria’s Persistent Power Challenge
Nigeria has struggled with inadequate and unreliable electricity supply for decades despite its substantial energy resources.
Frequent power outages affect households, businesses, industries, hospitals, schools and other institutions.
Many businesses and households rely on alternative sources of electricity when public supply is unavailable, increasing operating costs.
The country’s electricity challenge also has wider economic implications.
Limited and unreliable power supply can constrain industrial productivity, discourage investment and make it difficult for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to operate efficiently.
Fayose’s comments therefore placed the electricity crisis within a broader social context.
He argued that reliable power could extend the productive and recreational hours available to Nigerians.
Focus Shifts to Wider Impact of Power Shortages
His reference to marital intimacy and population growth has attracted much of the attention surrounding the video.
Nonetheless, the central argument of Fayose’s remarks was that electricity availability affects more than lighting homes.
He suggested that reliable electricity would support nightlife, recreation, commerce and social activities.
Meanwhile, it reduces the extent to which darkness determines when Nigerians retire for the night.
The comments have consequently reopened discussion about the need for sustained investment in Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The claim that inadequate electricity directly causes population growth is presented by Fayose as an observation rather than a demonstrated demographic finding.
Regardless, the remarks have brought renewed attention to the far-reaching effects of Nigeria’s power crisis on everyday life.
