Credit: Gaelle Marcel
Clean cooking is an essential aspect of a healthy household. However, access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking remains a significant challenge for many households in Nigeria. The World Health Organization estimates that exposure to household air pollution is responsible for 4.3 million deaths globally, with women and children being the most vulnerable.
In Nigeria, only 27.9% of households have access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking, leaving the majority exposed to household air pollution. The urban-rural divide is particularly stark, with 51.6% of urban households having access to clean fuels and technologies, compared to only 7.0% of rural households.
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in Nigeria varies significantly across geopolitical zones. The North West zone has the lowest access across all the zones, with just 6.1% of households having access. The North East zone is not faring any better, with only 11.9% of households having access. The North Central zone also marginally better, with only 16.8% of households having access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking.
The South East zone has the second highest access, with 38.3% of households having access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. The South South zone follows closely with 28.1% of households having access, while the South West zone has the highest access across all the zones, with 48.4% of households having access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking.
The level of access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking varies widely across different states in Nigeria. Lagos, which is the most populated city in Nigeria, has the highest access with 85.2% of households having access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. Anambra follows next with 57.0% of households having access, while Edo comes in third with 53.6% of households having access.
Ogun state has the fourth-highest access with 51.3%, while Abuja FCT (Federal Capital Territory) rounds up the top five with 46.5%. Osun, Oyo, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Ondo complete the top ten, with access rates ranging from 45.5% to 38.2%.
At the bottom of the list is Bauchi state with only 0.8% of households having access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. Other states with low access rates include Jigawa, Yobe, Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Adamawa, and Zamfara.
The factors responsible for the wide disparity in access rates across different states include the level of poverty, the degree of economic development, and the level of awareness and education about the benefits of clean cooking solutions. For instance, Lagos state, which has the highest access rate, is the commercial nerve center of Nigeria with a relatively higher level of economic development compared to other states.
On the other hand, states with low access rates, such as Bauchi and Jigawa, are characterized by high levels of poverty and low economic development, which limit the ability of households to afford modern cooking fuels and technologies.
The low access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in the North reflects the level of poverty in the region. The Northern part of Nigeria is known to be the poorest region in the country, and this is responsible for the high prevalence of traditional cooking methods, such as using firewood and charcoal.
In the Southern part of Nigeria, the relatively higher access can be attributed to the relatively higher level of economic development, compared to the Northern part. The increased economic development has led to increased access to modern fuels and technologies for cooking, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and electric cookstoves.
However, there is still a significant gap between the South and the North in terms of access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking. This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that will address the underlying poverty and economic development issues in the Northern region.
The lack of access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking has significant health, economic, and environmental implications. Household air pollution is a major contributor to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. It also affects the overall health of households, particularly women and children, who spend the most time indoors.
The use of traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene also has economic implications. Households that rely on these fuels for cooking spend a significant portion of their income on purchasing them, which can limit their ability to invest in education and other essential needs.
On the other hand, clean fuels and technologies such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG), electric cookstoves, and biogas have numerous benefits. They are efficient, reducing fuel consumption and costs, and emit fewer pollutants, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases. They also have environmental benefits, reducing deforestation and carbon emissions.
Efforts to increase access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in Nigeria have been ongoing. The Nigerian government has launched initiatives such as the National Clean Cooking Scheme to increase the use of LPG and other clean fuels and technologies. The private sector has also been active in promoting the adoption of clean cooking, with companies such as Total Nigeria and Oando PLC investing in LPG distribution and marketing.
In conclusion, increasing access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking is critical to improving the health and economic well-being of households in Nigeria. The urban-rural divide in access highlights the need for targeted interventions to ensure that rural households have access to these essential resources. Collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and civil society organizations are needed to accelerate progress towards universal access to clean cooking.