Fayose inaugurated as chairman of Rural Electrification Agency

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has officially assumed office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) after accepting his appointment by President Bola Tinubu. Fayose was inaugurated on Friday in Abuja alongside other members of the agency’s governing board by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

Other members of the board, including Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar, Mr. Ilyasu Makinta and three non-executive directors, were also sworn in during the ceremony. Mr. Abba Aliyu also assumed office as the Managing Director of the agency.

Speaking after the inauguration, Fayose thanked President Tinubu for appointing him and the other board members. He said the board would focus on moving the agency forward by providing the needed support for its programmes and helping it secure adequate funding for both ongoing and future projects.

According to him, the board’s responsibility goes beyond extending electricity to rural communities. He said it would also work towards ensuring that improved electricity supply creates better opportunities for education, healthcare, agriculture, businesses and the general wellbeing of Nigerians living in underserved areas.

Fayose assured Nigerians that the new board would work diligently to justify the confidence placed in its members. He added that efforts had already begun to engage relevant stakeholders and speed up projects aimed at expanding electricity access across the country.

Earlier, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the government now wants to measure success in the power sector by the number of communities and people receiving electricity rather than by electricity generation figures alone. He described the Rural Electrification Agency as a key institution in delivering the benefits of electricity reforms to communities across Nigeria.

The minister said every electrification project should improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians by supporting schools, healthcare centres, farms, markets and small businesses. He added that the agency would continue to serve as a link between government policies and rural development.

Tegbe also said the appointment of the new board reflects the Federal Government’s effort to strengthen governance, accountability and effective management in public institutions. He urged members to carry out their duties with transparency, innovation and prudent management of public resources while building partnerships that would improve electricity access nationwide.

REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu also appreciated President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve. He pledged that the agency would continue expanding electricity to unserved and underserved communities through its rural and off-grid electrification programmes.

The inauguration marks the beginning of the new governing board’s tenure, with Fayose leading the board in providing policy direction and oversight for the agency’s activities across the country.