Energy supports the provision of basic needs such as cooked food, a comfortable living temperature, lighting, the use of appliances, piped water or sewerage, essential health care (refrigerated vaccines, emergency, and intensive care), educational aids, communication (radio, television, electronic mail, the World Wide Web), and transport. Energy also fuels productive activities including agriculture, commerce, manufacturing, industry, and mining. Conversely, a lack of access to energy contributes to poverty and deprivation and can contribute to the economic decline.

The energy crisis, which has engulfed Nigeria for almost two decades, has been enormous and has largely contributed to the incidence of poverty by paralyzing industrial and commercial activities in the country.

 The Council for Renewable Energy of Nigeria estimates that power outages brought about a loss of 126 billion naira (US$ 984.38 million) annually.

Apart from the huge income loss, it has also resulted in health hazards due to the exposure to carbon emissions caused by constant use of ?backyard generators? in different households and business enterprises, unemployment, and high cost of living leading to a deterioration of living conditions.

The need for conserving energy in our various sectors - office building and residential areas, manufacturing industries, transportation, electricity generation and distribution, and electricity equipment and appliances – should be of high priority.

The use of high-wattage bulb like 60watts, 100watts and 200watts is one of the major challenges to the energy industry. The low cost and availability of these bulbs has made it the main source of light in many households in Nigeria especially in the low income areas.

The campaign for the replacement of these bulbs with energy saving bulbs should be intensified by the media and the appropriate government parastatal to ensure efficient energy use in the country.

References:

Olayinka Oyedepo (2012) Energy and sustainable development in Nigeria: the way forward. Oyedepo Energy, Sustainability and Society 2012, 2:15 http://www.energsustainsoc.com/content/2/1/15

Council for Renewable Energy, Nigeria (CREN) (2009) Nigeria Electricity Crunch. available at www.renewablenigeria.org