SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND PATTERNS OF CHARCOAL UTILIZATION AMONG URBAN DWELLERS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0912-4417Keywords:
Kaduna Metropolis, Charcoal, Household Energy SourcesAbstract
Domestic energy poverty continues to be a problem for a lot of households in Kaduna Metropolis. However, with the rising use of charcoal by a lot of families, it is important to understand the drivers of energy use. This study assessed the socioeconomic factors influencing the utilization of charcoal as a domestic energy source among urban households in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Data were collected from 364 households using a structured questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while binary and ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the predictors of charcoal use and the factors influencing the frequency of charcoal use. The results revealed that 15.7% of the respondents use charcoal as their main cooking fuel. The result also revealed that 55.8% use charcoal more than once a week. Also, 67.3% of the respondents use charcoal, mainly due to affordability and availability, despite widespread awareness of cleaner alternatives such as gas. Educational attainment (B = 0.370, p = 0.005) and household size (B = -1.149, p < 0.001) significantly influenced charcoal use, while income and gender showed no significant effect (p > 0.05). The results revealed that an increase in household income significantly reduces the frequency of charcoal use (B = -0.380, p = 0.004). The study concludes that socioeconomic factors, not preference, are the predictors of household dependence on charcoal. The study recommends that stakeholders should enhance access to affordable clean energy, and energy education will be critical for achieving a sustainable urban energy transition in Nigeria.
References
Abubakar, M. L., Abdussalam, A. F., Ahmed, M. S., & Wada, A. I. (2024). Spatiotemporal variability of rainfall and drought characterization in Kaduna, Nigeria. Discover Environment, 2(1), 72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00112-7
Adekoya, A. E., Adenikinju, A. F., Olubusoye, O. E., Oyeranti, O. A., Otekunrin, O. A., Ogunbayo, I. E., Oyelami, B. O., Sesan, T., Alaba, O., & Akano, O. I. (2023). Household food insecurity and cooking energy access in Nigeria: A panel data approach. Energy Nexus, 12, 100242. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEXUS.2023.100242
Adewuyi, A. (2020). Challenges and prospects of renewable energy in Nigeria: A case of bioethanol and biodiesel production. Energy Reports, 6, 77–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYR.2019.12.002
Aduloju, A. R., Babatunde, T. O., Babatunde, K. O., Oluwalana, T., & Babatunde, O. O. (2020). Socio-Economic Analysis of Charcoal Processing Among Household in Ibarapa North Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 12(1), 1–7. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe
Babalola, F. D., & Opii, E. E. (2010). Factors influencing consumption of charcoal as household energy in Benue State, Nigeria. The International Journal of Organic Agriculture Research and Development, 6, 72–85. https://www.ijoardjournal.org/index.php/ijoardjournal/article/view/62
Belay, B., Diriba, D., & Senbeta, F. (2024). Estimation of GHGs emission from traditional kilns charcoal production in northwestern Ethiopia: Implications on climate change. Heliyon, 10(24), e41015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41015
Brobbey, L. K., Hansen, C. P., Kyereh, B., & Pouliot, M. (2019). The economic importance of charcoal to rural livelihoods: Evidence from a key charcoal-producing area in Ghana. Forest Policy and Economics, 101, 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FORPOL.2019.01.013
Bununu, Y. A., Ludin, A. N. M., & Hosni, N. (2015). City profile: Kaduna. Cities, 49, 53–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.07.004
Chukwuemeka, E. N., & Osuji, E. E. (2020). Demand Analysis for Solid Fuel and Its Substitutes as Domestic Energy in Imo State, Nigeria. Finance & Economics Review, 2(2), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.38157/FINANCE-ECONOMICS-REVIEW.V2I2.141
Derebe, B., Alemu, A., & Asfaw, Z. (2025). Characterize the firewood and charcoal production and consumption patterns in the Northern part of Ethiopia. Sustainable Futures, 10, 100975. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SFTR.2025.100975
Harrell, F. E. (2015). Regression Modeling Strategies (Second). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19425-7
Harris, J. K. (2021). Primer on binary logistic regression. Family Medicine and Community Health, 9(Suppl 1), e001290. https://doi.org/10.1136/FMCH-2021-001290
Kaduna Bureau of Statistics. (2015). Population Projections for Kaduna State.
Kimutai, S. K., Siagi, Z. O., & Wambua, P. M. (2022). Determinants of Household Energy Utilization and Changing Behaviour in Kenya: Structural Equation Modelling Approach. European Journal of Energy Research, 2(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejenergy.2022.2.4.19
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826138446.0006
Mba, E. H. (2018). Assessment of Charcoal Production Impacts on the Environment and Socio-Economic Outcomes of Mecha District …. Resources and Environment, 8(5), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.re.20180805.02
McCullagh, P. (1980). Regression Models for Ordinal Data. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B: Statistical Methodology, 42(2), 109–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.2517-6161.1980.TB01109.X
Muazu, N. B., Muhammad, F., & Saleh, Y. (2022). Determinants of urban households’ charcoal dependence in Nigeria: An assessment of demographic and economic drivers. International Journal of Intellectual Discourse (IJID), 5(1), 2636–4832.
Muhammad, R. Z., & Abubakar, M. L. (2025). Assessing the influence of land surface temperature and sociodemographic factors on measles prevalence using AutoML and SHAP in Kaduna North, Nigeria. GeoJournal, 90(3), 103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-025-11361-1
Mulima, C., Yuichiro, A., Gebre, G. G., & Sieber, S. (2025). Factors influencing low-income households in substituting traditional charcoal with alternative energy sources for cooking in Northwestern and Lusaka Province, Zambia. Trees, Forests and People, 20, 100876. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TFP.2025.100876
Musa, K., & Abubakar, M. L. (2024). Monitoring urban growth and landscape fragmentation in Kaduna, Nigeria, using remote sensing approach. Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 12(1), 6757–6769. https://doi.org/10.15243/jdmlm.2024.121.6757
Ngowi, N. J. (2023). Charcoal Wastes-to-Fuel Energy Conversion for Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability in the Global South: a Case of Wood Charcoal Industry in Tanzania. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2023.06.004
Ojonuba, S. A., Ahmed, M. S., & Abubakar, M. L. (2025). Assessment of Public Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Perception on Microplastics Pollution in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna. Ghana Journal of Geography, 17(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v17i1.2
Oyeniran, I. W., Omojolaibi, J. A., & Alasinrin, K. B. (2025). Evolving energy choices: Analyzing the dynamics of clean cooking fuel transition in Nigeria. Energy for Sustainable Development, 85, 101630. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ESD.2024.101630
Rahut, D. B., Chhay, P., Datta, P., & Behera, B. (2025). The Transition of Household Energy Use in Cambodia Since 2004: Trends, Patterns, and Determinants. Asian Development Review, 42(03), 51–70. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0116110525500155
Saleh, Y. (2015). Kaduna: Physical and Human Environment. Shanono Printers and Publishers.
Sapnken, F. E., Nna Nna, T. P., Ewodo-Amougou, M. R., Stevy Sama, J. M., & Tamba, J. G. (2025). Dynamics of household cooking fuel choices in Cameroon: A comprehensive analysis of the transition from biomass to LPG. Energy Strategy Reviews, 60, 101788. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ESR.2025.101788
Sufiyan, I., K.D, M., & Musa U, U. (2020). Appraisal of Per Capita Consumption of Charcoal and Firewood As an Alternative Energy Sources for Domestic Usage in Keffi Nasarawa State Nigeria. Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management, 3(1), 22–26. https://doi.org/10.26480/jwbm.01.2021.22.26
Tazebew, E., Sato, S., Addisu, S., Bekele, E., Alemu, A., & Belay, B. (2023). Improving traditional charcoal production system for sustainable charcoal income and environmental benefits in highlands of Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(9), e19787. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2023.E19787
Umar, A., Ahmed, A. M., Abubakar, M. L., & Abdussalam, A. F. (2025). Assessing Sustainable Environmental Practices and Carbon Footprint Awareness Among Urban Dwellers in Kaduna Metropolis. Science World Journal, 20(2), 639–646. https://doi.org/10.4314/swj.v20i2.27
Vihi, S. K., Okeke-Agulu, K. I., Mailumo, S. S., Henry, U. I., Henry, M. U., & Selzing, P. M. (2023). Factors Influencing Charcoal Consumption as Cooking Energy Among Households in Gboko Area of Benue State, Nigeria: Perceived Implications on Forest Estates. Journal of Forestry Research and Management, 20(3), 51–65.
Yunusa, S. U., Mensah, E., Preko, K., Narra, S., Saleh, A., & Sanfo, S. (2024). Assessing the nexus between household dynamics and cooking energy choice: Evidence from Kaduna state, northwestern Nigeria. Energy Nexus, 15, 100310. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEXUS.2024.100310
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mustapha Abubakar, Bala Dogo, Aliyu Jafar Abubakar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
