The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that 67.8% of Nigerian households depend on firewood as their primary source of energy for domestic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, or religious activities.
This information was shared in the 2024 Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey (NREDSS), launched in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the report, the survey covered nine states selected across the six geo-political zones, including Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto.
The findings revealed that 41% of households purchase firewood, while 39% cut or collect it themselves. “Meanwhile, 18.9% of households acquire firewood through alternative means, such as barter, gifts, or borrowing,” the report stated. It further highlighted that more than half of the firewood collected, approximately 55.3%, consists of branches, stems, and trees.
The survey also pointed out that 22% of households used charcoal during the reference period. Among these households, 21.6% purchased charcoal, while only a small fraction (0.3% and 0.6%) either produced it themselves or acquired it by other means.
In terms of cleaner energy, the report revealed that 19.4% of households used Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) during the reference period. “This means that roughly one in five households rely on LPG, with an average monthly expenditure of N10,239.7 across the surveyed states,” the NBS stated.
The survey also assessed electricity access, showing that 58% of households are connected to the national grid, with 86.6% of them receiving electricity during the survey period. Of these, 85.2% use estimated billing systems, while 14.8% reported using pre-paid meters. The average monthly expenditure on electricity was estimated at N4,155.8.
The NBS recommended that, due to the widespread use of firewood, the government should promote tree re-planting initiatives and encourage the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives such as LPG, solar, and wind. “These measures will help reduce environmental challenges like air pollution, climate change, and deforestation,” the report suggested.
The NBS also called for the government to establish more LPG stations and promote local production of gas cylinders and accessories to make the clean energy option more affordable for households.
The survey, which interviewed 900 households in each of the nine states, provided vital insights for policymakers and stakeholders on energy consumption patterns in Nigeria’s residential sector.
