Energy Poverty and the Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria-Incidence and the Potential for Renewables

Abstract

A Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) has been used to study the incidence of energy poverty in Nigeria. Secondary data from the United States Agency for International Development was collated from over 44,000 households, from which calculated MEPI for the various regions of Nigeria show that the southwest had the least incidence of energy poverty, while the northeast region had the highest energy poverty. Cogent connections have been made between recent security challenges in the northeast with energy poverty. Reports taken from studies and the mass media show that vast majority of attacks occur in the geopolitical region. Thus, renewables such as solar and wind energies abundant in northeast Nigeria have been identified as potential solutions to ending energy poverty and hence a strategic pathway to arresting the current security challenges.