Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria: Findings and recommendations

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria failed poor women, who paid 2–6 times the official price and faced hardships during shortages. The 2016 subsidy removal further stressed household incomes, leading women in rural areas to rely more on inferior biomass fuels. The report recommends against reinstating kerosene subsidies, suggesting instead that funds be redirected toward social protection programs and the financing of clean-burning cookstoves.

• Kerosene subsidies were ineffective for poor women in Nigeria, as no surveyed households paid the official price; instead, they paid between two and six times the official sales price.
• Fuel shortages disproportionately affected women, who spent hours or entire days queuing for fuel and often relied on informal dealers selling adulterated fuel at higher prices.
• The 2016 removal of kerosene subsidies negatively impacted women's budgets. While women in Lagos coped by saving fuel or shifting expenditures, those in rural areas had fewer financial strategies and increased their use of inferior biomass fuels.
• Surveyed households do not prioritize energy subsidies over other forms of government support, preferring instead jobs, health, financial support, and education.
• The report strongly advises against returning to kerosene subsidies, suggesting that funds be redirected to social protection and the provision of clean-burning cookstoves to reduce indoor air pollution for low-income women.

APA

Merrill,, C. B. Z. I.-O. A. (2020). Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria: Findings and recommendations. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/gender-and-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria-findings-and-recommendations

Chicago

Merrill,, Christopher Beaton,Anna Zinecker,Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri,Temitope Adeyinka,Laura. Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria: Findings and recommendations. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/gender-and-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria-findings-and-recommendations.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Merrill, |first1=Christopher Beaton,Anna Zinecker,Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri,Temitope Adeyinka,Laura |title=Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria: Findings and recommendations |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=5 February 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/gender-and-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria-findings-and-recommendations |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{merrill2020gender, author = {Merrill,, Christopher Beaton,Anna Zinecker,Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri,Temitope Adeyinka,Laura}, title = {{Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria: Findings and recommendations}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/gender-and-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria-findings-and-recommendations}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }