By Bello Muhammad
As the price of cooking gas continues to rise in Nigeria, many urban residents are turning back to more affordable, traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood. Previously, charcoal and firewood were mostly used by rural dwellers or those in semi-urban areas.
With the introduction of cooking gas, these older fuel sources were phased out due to the convenience and efficiency offered by gas. However, the recent surge in cooking gas prices has led many to reassess their options, and the ease of use of gas has become secondary to the soaring cost of living.
A quick survey reveals that charcoal now costs between N500 and N1,000 per portion, while firewood is priced around N700 per bundle. In contrast, a 3kg cylinder of cooking gas now costs around N4,000. As the cost of gas continues to climb, many Nigerians are returning to cheaper, less convenient alternatives.
Some residents in urban areas have taken to sourcing firewood themselves from nearby bushes and building sites. This practice, more common in rural areas, is now gaining traction in cities as people seek to reduce their household expenses.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey Report highlights that about 39 percent of households source fuel wood by cutting or collecting it themselves. More than half of the fuel wood used by households consists of branches, stems, and trees, with over 67 percent of households relying on fuel wood for various purposes.
As the economic pressures increase, more urban residents are returning to these age-old, low-cost fuel sources, signaling a shift back to traditional ways of cooking in the face of rising modern energy costs.
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