Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), led by former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, to ensure that improving the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians remains the guiding principle of every decision.
The minister gave the charge on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the new REA board, describing rural electrification as a critical driver of economic growth, social inclusion and national development.
Fayose, who was appointed Chairman of the REA Governing Board by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was inaugurated alongside other board members, including Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar, Mr. Ilyasu Makinta and three non-executive directors. Mr. Abba Aliyu also took the oath of office as the agency’s Managing Director.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tegbe said the Federal Government was shifting its focus from measuring electricity generation in megawatts to assessing the number of communities and Nigerians with access to reliable power.
“We are moving from just counting kilowatts and megawatts to how many communities and people were powered in the country,” the minister said.
He noted that every mini-grid, solar home system, and electrified school, market, healthcare facility or farm represents an investment in human capital, economic inclusion and national prosperity.
According to him, ongoing reforms under the Electricity Act require the REA to bridge the gap between national power policies and rural development by ensuring electricity reaches underserved and remote communities across the country.
Tegbe urged the board to uphold the highest standards of transparency, innovation and accountability while remaining focused on delivering meaningful impact.
“Most importantly, I encourage you to continually ask: ‘How does this improve the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians?’ If that question remains our compass, I have no doubt that the agency will continue to exceed expectations,” he said.
In his acceptance remarks, Fayose expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and pledged that the board would work diligently to reposition the agency and accelerate rural electrification across the country.
He said the board would provide the political will needed to strengthen the agency while mobilising support for projects that expand electricity access to rural communities.
“My mission in REA is to take the agency to greater heights by providing the needed political will,” Fayose said.
He disclosed that engagement with critical stakeholders had already commenced to facilitate the implementation of both immediate and long-term projects.
“Work has started in earnest. We are reaching out very fast and appealing to people to ensure the work is done. I assure Nigerians that your expectations will not be dashed. We will give our best to achieve the Renewed Hope of President Tinubu for the country to be better for us all,” he stated.
Fayose stressed that the agency’s mandate extends beyond providing electricity, saying it is also about ensuring that millions of Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities, experience the developmental benefits of sustainable energy access.
“The assignment given to us is beyond providing electricity but also looking at the population of the country who need to feel the impact of the energy. When this happens, the people will forever be indebted to the agency,” he added.
Also speaking, the newly inaugurated Managing Director of REA, Abba Aliyu, thanked President Tinubu for the appointment and pledged to intensify the agency’s efforts to expand electricity access through rural electrification and off-grid energy programmes targeted at underserved and unserved communities.
The inauguration marks the beginning of the new board’s tenure as it takes responsibility for providing strategic oversight and advancing the agency’s mandate of expanding electricity access nationwide.
