A national survey shows that Nigerians in nine states spend N312.27bn on cooking gas, highlighting evolving energy consumption patterns.
Nigerians in nine states have spent a staggering N312.27 billion on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, according to a new report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.
The report, titled the **2024 Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey**, sheds light on the country’s changing energy consumption patterns and the reliance on various sources for cooking and heating.
The survey encompassed data from 7,706 households across nine states, offering insights into the usage of LPG, fuelwood, electricity, and other energy sources.
The states included in the survey were Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Enugu, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto, ensuring a broad representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Conducted over a 17-day period from April 19 to May 5, 2024, the survey utilised a systematic sampling method to collect data on energy consumption and expenditures over the 30 days preceding the survey date.
The findings indicate that 19.4 per cent of households reported using LPG during this period, with the average household expenditure on LPG pegged at N10,239.7.
Sokoto State emerged as the highest spender, with an average monthly expenditure of N12,439.3, followed closely by Enugu at N11,852.2.
In contrast, Ekiti State reported the lowest average expenditure at N8,213.5. The report highlighted, “The average monthly expenditure on LPG across the nine states in the past 30 days prior to the survey day was N10,239.7.”
Despite the growing popularity of LPG, the survey revealed that traditional fuels like fuelwood and charcoal remain widely used.
Fuelwood is particularly prevalent, with 67.8 per cent of surveyed households reporting its usage for domestic, agricultural, and commercial purposes.
The total annual spending on fuelwood is estimated at N608.72 billion, with an average household expenditure of N117,347 per year.
Charcoal remains significant as well, with 22 per cent of households using it primarily for cooking. However, charcoal production is limited, with only 0.3 per cent of households involved in its production, mainly concentrated in states like Kwara and Ekiti.
Electricity access was another crucial aspect of the report. Approximately 58.2 per cent of households are connected to the national grid, with Ekiti leading at 79.7 per cent grid access.
However, a substantial 85.2 per cent of these households are subjected to estimated billing, with only 14.8 per cent utilising pre-paid meters.
The report also notes the increasing role of solar power systems, with 4.8 per cent of households reporting access to solar home systems or mini-grids.
Additionally, 4.8 per cent of households use diesel or petrol generators, purchasing an average of 7.38 litres of fuel per month, primarily from filling stations, reflecting ongoing reliance on petrol-powered generators due to electricity supply challenges.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, launched the 2024 Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey.
He highlighted the significance of reliable and affordable energy as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of economic growth.
Adeniran emphasised that the survey offers critical insights for policymakers and operators in the energy sector as Nigeria addresses rising energy demand, access challenges, and affordability issues.