ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: A PANACEA TO RURAL HOUSEHOLD POVERTY IN NIGERIA

Energy is critical to achieving virtually all the Millennium Development Goals. Whether it is electricity for schools or clinics, energy for the delivery of health, education and sanitation, services, clean fuel to reduce indoor pollution, energy for pumping water or heat for cooking food and boiling water, energy in all its forms will be required to achieve these ends. Current patterns of energy consumption are polluting and unsustainable, and are characterized by inequity in consumption and access. Finding appropriate energy solutions that will fuel economic growth and increase social equity is essential. Energy is one of today’s most serious issues. It is one of the most complexes. Satisfying the needs of hundreds of millions of people living in subsistence conditions has implications for international policy and economic relations as well. This is particularly pressing for developing countries like ours, since economic development-vital if millions are to be helped out of poverty-requires greater use of energy for their numerous farm operations. This paper thus argues that access to secure energy is one of the pre-requisites for rural poverty reduction in Nigeria and examines the energy crisis facing Nigeria and issues pertaining to use and consumption. It is divided into five sections, section one is the introduction which sets the ball rolling by providing the background information. The second section discusses the energy crisis in Nigeria, while section three outlines the energy issues facing Nigeria. In section four, the energy needs of rural Nigerians were outlined with their major applications while in section five; we discussed the ways/strategies for tackling challenges to sustainable energy service delivery