SUSTAINABLE COOKING ENERGY USE AMONG LOW-INCOME URBAN HOUSEHOLDS OF ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS, OGUN STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the types and factors influencing the choice of cooking energy consumed by low-income urban
households in the Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State. The objective is to provide information on the urban poor and the primary factors influencing household energy choice in the study area. A sample frame of 123,657 regular households was obtained from the National Population Commission (2006) for the 36 political wards across five local government areas obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission. Cochran's (1977) standard formula for sample size determination was used to select 1166 selected households aa s sample on which a structured questionnaire was administered. Responses were analysed using percentage distribution, chi-square and Principal Component Analysis. Results showed that 43.7% of the respondents were in low-income urban areas. Dominant energy types consumed in the study area was electricity (88.5%), gas (5.9%), Kerosene (4.3%), Firewood (0.9%), Charcoal and Coal (0.1%) each. The result also indicated that residents of low-income areas mixed firewood and coal with electricity (43.4%). The dominant factors influencing the choice of energy consumed by households in the area were availability (Factor Score = 0.79),increase in the unit price (Factor Score = 0.65), and types and quantity of meals cooked (Factor Score = 0.65). It concluded that the distribution of household energy consumption in the study area was significantly and positively influenced by economic factors of household budget (r = 0.805), income (r = 0.645) and increase in the unit price of energy type (r =0.609). Consequently, the study recommended a planned appliance incentive such as the distribution of affordable gas and kerosene stoves, provision of highly subsidised gas cylinders and target awareness campaigns, especially in low-income urban areas, on the use of environmentally clean energy types as a panacea for sustainable energy for all.