Economic hardship: Nigerians revert to using firewood and charcoal stoves; issues

 

The little size costs N15,000, while the large size costs N21,500. We currently only accept store pickups for orders placed online.

These and a ton more are offered on the website of a well-known brand's online store, which sells kitchen appliances made locally.

Many of these companies compete for consumers in the rapidly expanding charcoal stove market by using various catchphrases and advertising techniques.

We cannot undervalue the introduction of charcoal stoves and their acceptance among Nigerians, whether through the use of paid advertising efforts on the internet, word-of-mouth, and recommendations.

"Let's return to charcoal."

Hauwa Ladan, a resident of Mararaba, claims that she has switched to using firewood and charcoal stoves as her main sources of cooking fuel due to growing costs for cooking gas and kerosene.

She has told friends and neighbors that using a charcoal burner for family meals is more cost-effective and quicker.

Ladan draws attention to the significant effects of the high price of cooking gas, stating that it significantly reduces household spending in Nigeria.

When a cooking pot is set on charcoal, it will never turn black. According to what Mrs. Elizabeth Moyegun recently informed a major daily, cooking pot stains are solely caused by firewood.


The blame games that the owners of LPG terminals and the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) have been engaging in lately underscore the intricacy of the cooking gas supply chain and its exorbitant price.

Industry observers contend that these differences may point to issues with plans for distribution, storage, or pricing.

The NALPGAM states that fixing these issues is necessary to stabilize and potentially lower consumer cooking gas prices.

The NALPGAM President, Oladapo Olatunbosun, asserts that the price of cooking gas, or liquefied petroleum gas, has risen to as least N1,300 per killogramme

Experts caution that using firewood and charcoal may be convenient during this pricey cooking gas phase, but they come at a significant environmental cost.

They manifest as potential repercussions such as ecosystem deterioration, air pollution, deforestation, and others.

The clearing of forests

Over 2 million hectares of forest were lost annually in Nigeria between 2005 and 2010, mostly as a result of logging, infrastructural development, and agricultural expansion, according to data from the UN.

According to the International Energy Agency, over 120 million Nigerians rely on firewood and charcoal for their cooking needs, making the country a significant consumer of fossil fuel for cooking.

According to a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, the cost of cooking gas increased by 38%, reaching ₦16,250 for a 12.5 kilogram cylinder inJanuary 2024.

The average retail price for refilling a 5 kg cylinder increased by 3.55% on a monthly basis, according to the NBS. According to the agency, 1kg of gas increased in price by 37% within the same period, from ₦950 to ₦1,300. This price increase coincides with the surge in prices.

According to family physician Dr. Temitope Oyetunji of Abuja, using firewood has an effect on the environment as well as its users. Oyetunji claims that breathing in smoke from burning firewood can cause heart problems and respiratory problems.

He emphasized that the smoke particles released have an effect on the ozone layer and cause pollution in the environment.

When firewood and other fossil fuels are regularly used, the air becomes contaminated, which impacts multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "These include Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy)." According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fossil fuels are a major source of hazardous emissions that have a substantial influence on world health. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution poses a health risk to 99 percent of the world's population since it exceeds the organization's recommended quality levels. As a result, the WHO emphasizes the critical need to cut back on the use of fossil fuels and put in place practical steps to minimize air pollution.

According to analysts, promoting environmentally friendly substitutes and economical cooking gas use could lessen these negative effects on the environment and foster a more harmonious relationship between energy consumption and preservation of the environment.

They contend that the best way to lessen these negative effects on the ecosystem is to encourage sustainable behaviors like reforestation, wise wood use, and the use of alternative energy sources.

Environmentalist Mr. Newton Jibunoh emphasized the loss of biodiversity as a result of the destructive effects of felling trees in Nigeria for firewood.

The climate impact of charcoal stoves

Jibunoh emphasized that habitats for many plant and animal species are severely reduced by deforestation, leading to a noteworthy reduction in biodiversity overall.

He asserts that it is impossible to overlook the critical function that trees play in mitigating soil erosion and that their removal, as demonstrated in the quest can result in lower soil fertility and higher rates of erosion when used for firewood.

He emphasized the importance of trees in absorbing carbon dioxide, pointing out that the widespread cutting down of trees for firewood raises greenhouse gas concentrations and exacerbates the problems caused by climate change.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of trees in controlling water cycles; local hydrological patterns are upset by deforestation, which may have an impact on the region's water supply.

Many tribes depend on trees for their resources; as deforestation increases, these communities' livelihoods and traditional customs suffer as a result.

Experts recommend that Nigerians adopt more environmentally friendly cooking methods by tackling the rising price of conventional fuels like gas.

According to them, cooking gas costs might be stabilized and lowered by promoting cooperation and resolving supply chain problems, which would be advantageous for the environment and the economy.