Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has linked limited access to electricity, particularly in rural communities, to changes in family life and population growth, arguing that prolonged darkness after 7pm leaves many Nigerians with little to do at night.
Fayose made the remark while speaking on the importance of improving electricity supply and expanding rural electrification across the country. He suggested that the absence of reliable power affects more than economic activities, saying it can also influence how households spend their evenings.
According to the former governor, many rural communities without dependable electricity experience early periods of darkness, limiting opportunities for productive activities, entertainment, education and social engagement after sunset.
He argued that improved electricity access could transform the daily lives of residents by allowing households and businesses to remain active later into the evening. Reliable power, he said, would also enable young people and adults to study, work, operate businesses and engage in other productive activities after dark.
Fayose’s comments were made in the context of the broader need for greater investment in rural electrification. Large sections of Nigeria’s population, particularly in rural communities, continue to face challenges accessing dependable electricity, affecting businesses, education, healthcare and other essential services.
The former governor maintained that electricity should be regarded not merely as a household convenience but as an important component of economic and social development. He called for greater attention to communities that remain underserved by the national electricity system.
Energy experts have similarly identified reliable electricity as a major factor in improving productivity and living standards. Access to power can enable small businesses to operate for longer hours, support refrigeration and healthcare services, improve educational opportunities and reduce dependence on alternative sources of energy.
Fayose’s remarks have generated discussion on the wider social effects of electricity shortages in Nigeria, particularly in communities where residents have limited access to other forms of evening activity.
The former governor’s observation has also drawn attention to the relationship between infrastructure and demographic trends. While population growth is influenced by several complex factors, including income, education, healthcare, cultural practices and access to family planning services, improved infrastructure can significantly alter how communities live and work.
As Nigeria continues to seek solutions to its electricity challenges, stakeholders have called for sustained investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, alongside targeted rural electrification programmes that can extend reliable power to underserved communities.
For Fayose, improving electricity access should therefore form part of a broader development strategy aimed at giving Nigerians greater opportunities to work, learn and participate in economic and social activities regardless of the time of day.
