A REVIEW OF DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USE IN URBAN/RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN NIGERIA

Mohammed Umar, A. S. Grema Murtala A. Musa, Sahabo Abubakar & Godwin Maina

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maiduguri

Email: umar20054@gmail.com

Abstract

Concerns for energy required for the running of homes, industries and the economy generally has been of global concern for some decades. Domestic household energy has influence on environmental conservation and sustainable development. This paper reviews the domestic energy consumption in urban/rural settlements of Nigeria. Our study takes an explicitly longitudinal and multilevel approach to understanding this fundamental energy use transition. For this study, a narrative approach was employed. Selected studies were compared and summarized on the basis of existing literature, theories and models. This review explores the differences in influences on fuel use between rural and urban areas. It also evaluates and identifies patterns and trends in domestic energy in urban/rural areas of Nigeria. From the literatures reviewed, it was seen that domestic energy is energy used at homes for cooking, heating, lightening, cooling, powering electrical appliances and pumping water. These energies can be sourced from different energy sources ranging from traditional energy (wood waste, animal dung, crop waste fuel wood, sawdust and charcoal) to the modern energy source (kerosene, liquefied gas and electricity). Looking at the two energy models used for this research, it was seen that electricity ranks the highest in energy ladder model and energy stack model, yet most households in Nigeria, approximately 100 million people lack access to it. It was noted that the key factors in the growth of household energy consumption are the number of households with access to energy supply, penetration rates of electric appliances, and the mount and efficiency of energy sources. The findings have shown that a lot should be done in ensuring that safer and cleaner sources of energy are available to rural households. Conventionally, availability, affordability and convenience of usage are critical issues to be taken into consideration when making choices among alternative energy sources that are available. There is the need for government’s intervention in making kerosene available to rural poor. This is the source of energy that was mostly used.