Survey of preferred household energy utilization in Otukpo town Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study conducted in Otukpo town, Benue State, Nigeria was aimed to assess the preferred household energy utilization and the  factors influencing these preferences. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to randomly select 10 households from 10  communities in Oturkpo town. One hundred adults purposely selected and interviewed with Google Forms semi-structured questionnaire for data collection. Results showed a majority of respondents were females (91.2%). Monthly, most of the respondents (43.1% and 35.3%)  earned between N 21,000 to N 50,000 and spent N5,000 to N10,000 on household energy. Majority (38.2%) preferred firewood as single- use energy and firewood and charcoal (68.6%) as double-use while charcoal was the most (65.7%) easy and convenient accessible energy.  Income (42.2%) was the major factor influencing energy preference while convenience (35.3%) and ease of accessibility (35.3%)  were the major reasons for preference. Preference for gas increased progressively from 2% for no-salary earners to 78.4% for those  earning above N 200,000. Preference for charcoal and firewood decreased from 34.7% and 72.3% to 10.8% and 8.8% respectively for  respondents with no-salary and income above N 200,000, respectively. The choice for firewood decreased from 60.8% for the unemployed  to 6.9% for the Civil Servants. Also, respondents with no formal education utilized charcoal and firewood (53.9 % and 50.0%)  compared to those with tertiary education (11.8% and 8.8%), respectively. Preference for cooking gas was lowest with respondents with  no formal education in contrast to those with tertiary education (86.3%). In conclusion, low income and education encouraged the use of  firewood and charcoal.