Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria were largely ineffective, as most low-income households paid significantly above the official price and women faced long queues and safety risks from adulterated fuel. The 2016 removal of these subsidies further strained women's budgets, pushing many in rural areas back toward biomass for cooking, which increases exposure to indoor air pollution and time spent collecting wood. While women often control daily energy choices, men typically own the electronic appliances. The report recommends against returning to kerosene or LPG subsidies, suggesting instead a shift toward technology-neutral clean cooking support and social protection programs targeted at female heads of households.

• Kerosene subsidies failed to provide low-cost fuel to poor women; no surveyed households paid the official price of NGN 50 per litre in 2015, with prices in Lagos being four times higher and in Imo more than six times higher.
• The removal of kerosene subsidies in 2016 negatively impacted women by increasing prices and maintaining fuel scarcity, leading many to revert to biomass. In Imo, 50% of households and in Lagos 18% reported they would use more biomass as a result of price hikes.
• Women bear a disproportionate burden of energy poverty because they are primarily responsible for cooking and are the main purchasers of kerosene and firewood, making their incomes more vulnerable to price increases.
• The use of biomass for cooking creates significant opportunity costs for women, with survey data showing they spend 10 to 30 minutes daily collecting wood, which detracts from income-generating and family tasks.
• There is a gender gap in energy decision-making: while women often decide on cooking and lighting fuels, men typically purchase and own electronic appliances, influencing the choice of energy-using devices.
• Low-income households prioritize social support over energy subsidies, preferring government assistance for jobs, health, financial support, and education over access to modern energy.
• The kerosene distribution system was plagued by corruption and inefficiency, forcing women to queue for hours or rely on informal dealers who sell adulterated fuel, increasing the risk of domestic explosions.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2020). Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/gender-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria. 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/gender-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria |date=February 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/gender-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2020gender, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Nigeria}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/gender-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-nigeria.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }