By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has unveiled the Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey (NREDSS) 2024 to support the Federal Government’s efforts in addressing the nation’s energy needs.

Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, announced this at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

Adeniran explained that the NREDSS 2024 was initiated to assess and estimate energy demand in the residential sector for the 2024 reference period.

He added that the survey also gathered key information on household energy usage patterns for cooking, lighting, and cooling.

“The primary goal of this survey, which was piloted in nine states, is to gain a comprehensive understanding of energy consumption patterns among Nigerian households.

“Through this survey, we have collected valuable data on a range of factors, including energy consumption patterns, access to electricity, energy affordability, and energy efficiency,” Adeniran said.

He noted that insights from the survey would guide policymaking and planning efforts, noting that the data would help improve energy distribution and promote energy efficiency.

The information, he said would also be used to expand renewable energy sources and address energy poverty.

Adeniran stressed the importance of applying the survey findings judiciously to close the gap in energy supply within the residential sector.

Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, highlighted the importance of the survey for increasing energy access in Nigeria.

She noted that the lack of reliable data has been a barrier to improving energy access in the country.

“Without accurate data on supply and demand, assessing energy security and access will always be incomplete.

“Nigeria’s energy balance is crucial for tracking progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 and advancing energy policy, which has often relied on traditional or secondary data.

“This survey marks a significant step forward,” Stefanowicz said.

She revealed that the survey found 60 per cent of households are connected to the national grid, with most located in urban areas.

However, she noted that due to the grid’s unreliability, many households rely on petrol and diesel, with an estimated annual expenditure of nearly N330 billion.

Stefanowicz also mentioned that the next phase of the survey would focus on energy use in the industrial sector.

Mr Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), noted that the survey would help guide the Federal Government’s energy transition programme.

Represented by Mohammed Modu, Director of Energy Information Systems at the commission, Abdullahi said the survey would provide vital inputs for policy formulation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the survey was conducted in nine states: Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto.

A total of 8,100 households participated, with 900 households surveyed in each state.

The survey was a collaborative effort between NBS, the Federal Ministry of Power, ECN, the International Energy Agency, and the European Union. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu