Domestic Energy Crisis in Nigeria: Impact on Women and Family Welfare

Energy consumption in the household sector in Nigeria is characterized by a general dependence on fuelwood, high inefficiency of energy consumption, decentralization of consumption (settlements are dispersed, making supply of electricity for example uneconomical), and an urban-rural dichotomy. The detrimental effects of fuelwood deficits and scarcity of alternative sources of fuel are mostly felt by women as a social group, poor rural women in particular. Although the Nigerian government established an Energy Commission in 1987 with the sole responsibility of coordinating the activities of NGOs and government agencies in charge of electricity generation, petroleum products production, coal production, and gas supply, the various agencies continue to operate without the necessary linkages. As it is, the requisite framework to address household energy issues is lacking, while the issue of fuelwood is yet to be addressed by government policy decisions. The present domestic energy crisis in Nigeria calls for immediate policy intervention. To effectuate an effective policy package, critical characteristics of the sector must be known, while the implications of the different options must be documented. Notes, ref.