Comparative Analysis of Access, and Preferences of Rural and Urban Households for Cooking Energy, and the Determinants in Nigeria: A Case of Ogun State

This study identified and compared the use of cooking energy among rural and urban households in Ogun State, Nigeria using a sample of 300 households. Empirical results indicate that electricity and gas are the least sources of cooking energy in rural area (RA) while firewood and electricity are least in urban area (UA). The level of education of the respondents was a significant (P < 0.05) factor influencing the probability of using charcoal and electricity in the RA relative to firewood, while there is a tendency towards positivity using charcoal, kerosene and gas relative to firewood with household size in UA. In addition, distance to energy source (P < 0.05), and household income (P < 0.01) significantly determine energy use in UA. Probability of using charcoal, electricity was also found to be significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by occupation and price of the cooking fuel, respectively, in a negative direction. In the UA, both income and price significantly influence the use of gas while only price influences its usage in the RA. There is therefore the need for price reduction and promotion of interventions that will enable low income earner to use cleaner and environmentally friendly energy source.