Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has formally assumed office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) following his inauguration by the Federal Government.
Fayose was inaugurated alongside other board members by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, during a ceremony held in Abuja.
Other members of the board include Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar, Mr Ilyasu Makinta and other non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu officially assumed office as Managing Director of the agency.
Speaking after the inauguration, Fayose expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and pledged to support efforts aimed at expanding electricity access across Nigeria.
According to him, his priority would be to provide the political support required for the agency to achieve its mandate while ensuring that adequate resources are secured for the implementation of key programmes.
He assured Nigerians that the new board would work diligently to advance the objectives of the agency and improve access to electricity, particularly in underserved communities.
Fayose noted that many of the country’s electricity challenges are concentrated at the grassroots level, stressing that the agency’s responsibility extends beyond power supply to improving the lives and livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
Earlier, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe described the Rural Electrification Agency as a strategic institution within Nigeria’s electricity sector, saying the focus of power-sector reforms should increasingly be on the number of communities and citizens benefiting from electricity access.
According to him, every electrification project contributes to improvements in healthcare, education, agriculture, commerce and economic development.
Tegbe stated that the implementation of the Electricity Act and broader reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry have made the agency’s role more critical in bridging the gap between national policy and grassroots development.
He urged members of the new board to prioritise transparency, accountability, innovation and value for money in carrying out their responsibilities.
The minister also encouraged the board to strengthen partnerships with development organisations and private-sector stakeholders to accelerate electricity access across the country.
Managing Director of the agency, Abba Aliyu, reaffirmed REA’s commitment to expanding electricity access through rural and off-grid electrification programmes aimed at reaching underserved and unserved communities.
The inauguration formally marks the beginning of the board’s tenure, with Fayose expected to provide strategic oversight for the agency’s operations and programmes.
