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.