A new survey, the Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey 2024, has revealed that about 85.2 per cent of Nigerian households use the estimated billing system, while only 15 per cent have prepaid meters.
The survey, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Power (FMP), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the European Union (EU), also revealed that Nigerian households spent at least ₦4,155.8 per month on electricity.
The report shows that Nigerian households spend over N600 billion annually on fuelwood and collect 30 billion kilograms of fuelwood annually.
The survey, which covers nine states across the six geopolitical zones, also shows that between 2020 and 2024, the number of households connected to the national grid increased by only 3%, from 55 per cent in 2020 to 58 per cent in 2024.
According to the survey, “Over 58 per cent of households are connected to the national grid across the nine states surveyed, and 86.6 per cent had electricity supply during the reference period.”
The survey further reports that an estimated 67.8 per cent of households use fuelwood for domestic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, or religious purposes, 22.0 per cent use charcoal, and 19.4 per cent use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These households spend an average of N10,239.7 across the surveyed states.
Presenting the findings of the survey, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said the report comes at a critical period in Nigeria, as energy demand, usage, and pricing have been major topics of discussion in recent years.
He said the insights contained in the report provide sound evidence for policymakers, operators, and the general public to apply in these discussions, as the government seeks better outcomes for the energy sector.
“As we all know, access to reliable and affordable energy is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of economic growth,” he said. “The residential sector, which encompasses our homes, informal household businesses, and communities, is a major consumer of energy. Understanding the patterns, trends, and challenges within this sector is essential for developing effective policies and strategies to meet the nation’s energy needs.”
Earlier, in her goodwill message, a member of the European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, commended the NBS for conducting the survey.
She said one of the most striking aspects of the report is the staggering amount Nigerian households spend annually on fuelwood—over N600 billion. She also noted the total annual expenditure on fuelwood and the volume of wood—nearly 30 billion kilograms—cut and used as fuel each year in Nigeria.
According to her, “These alternative means of achieving access to energy have significant negative impacts on forests, causing deforestation, environmental degradation, and health issues.
“When we consider that most users are in urban areas, given the unreliability of the grid, they are also relying on petrol and diesel, for which the annual expenditure we have learned is almost N330 billion. We see the burden this places on individuals, the economy, health, nature, and the climate across many sectors.”
