CHARCOAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION PATTERN IN URBAN HOUSEHOLDS OF FCT ABUJA, NIGERIA

This paper considers those factors contributing to charcoal consumption in the urban households in capital city of Nigeria using in-house questionnaire data collection from ninety households. Thirty households each from three study areas namely; Maintam a, Garki and Kubwa, mapped out in three categories based on building designs; duplex houses, Terrence/flat apartment and bungalows, and demographic information like (marital statues, income, education and employment). The results shows that duplex and bungalows house designs consumes more of charcoal 39% and 51% respectively than 10% of terrence/flat apartment, same with married and high and low income earners which shows that charcoal consumption rates were higher for the households with more family members, high/low income and cooking frequency. This study shows the relevancy of charcoal in the urban area, also that income is an important variable and this study also suggest need for other variables like food choice, cost of living, household size and preference, same time recommend policies and means to address this charcoal consumption that poses great threats to our forest reserves which serves as carbon storage, water, air purification and also reduces the intensity of flooding events.