Tegbe: Power Sector’s Progress Will Now Be Measured by Communities Electrified, Not Megawatts

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said the success of Nigeria’s power sector will no longer be assessed mainly by the amount of electricity generated, but by the number of communities and people gaining access to reliable power.

Tegbe stated this on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the governing board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), where he emphasised the need to shift the focus of the sector towards tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

The minister said the REA should be viewed not simply as an agency responsible for expanding electricity connections, but as an important vehicle for creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods, particularly in underserved communities.

“We are moving from just counting kilowatts and megawatts to how many communities and people were powered in the country,” Tegbe said.

He explained that every mini-grid project, solar home system, electrified market, school, primary healthcare centre, farm and productive enterprise represented an investment in human capital and economic inclusion.

According to him, the implementation of the Electricity Act and ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry have further increased the importance of the REA in expanding access to electricity.

Tegbe described the agency as a critical link between government policy and grassroots development, noting that its work would help extend electricity access beyond major cities to rural and underserved communities.

He charged the newly inaugurated board to provide strong strategic direction, improve institutional governance, protect public resources and strengthen partnerships with development organisations and private investors.

The minister urged board members to assess every major decision based on its potential impact on ordinary Nigerians.

He said the central question should always be whether proposed policies and projects would improve people’s lives and livelihoods.

The seven-member board is chaired by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose. Other non-executive members include Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta, while REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu and the agency’s three executive directors complete the board.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Fayose thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and pledged to support efforts to expand electricity access across the country.

He noted that many of Nigeria’s electricity challenges are concentrated at the grassroots, where communities continue to face inadequate access to power.

Fayose said the board would work towards mobilising the resources required to implement short- and long-term electrification programmes.

“Our assignment is beyond providing electricity. It is about ensuring that Nigerians feel the impact of energy,” he said.

The board chairman also pledged to pursue adequate funding and partnerships to support the REA’s programmes and ensure that more communities benefit from Nigeria’s ongoing electricity sector reforms.