Rural Energy Conditions in Oyo State: Present and Future Perspectives on the Untapped Resources

Abstract

Over 60% of the Nigerian population still resides within rural spaces. These rural spaces are zones of isolation with a high electricity and energy demand for enhanced livelihoods and settlement liveability. Despite the demand for electricity in these rural areas, they still remains under-serviced as far as accessibility to a stable electricity supply is concerned. Likewise, connection historically to the conventional electricity grid in many rural areas remains a mirage. With rural energy resource potentials remaining untapped, this study made use of both qualitative and qualitative data gathered across 472 rural households in 9 randomly selected rural local government areas (LGAs) to provide a narrative around rural household energy experiences. The study brings to light the abundance of un-utilized renewable resources that could be exploited towards providing electricity for rural households. Several limitations identified include weak political will, a limited profit-orientation of electricity by investors and limited energy choice information to households.

Examining liveability in the informal community of Kabawa, Nigeria

“…The findings indicate that the interests of the residents differed. They were all willing to attributed to easy access to spare parts and to a sense of communal ownership of the facility (see Popoola & Magidimisha, 2019;.…”