Urbanisation and Energy Crisis: the Case of Lagos State

Abstract

The study employed in-depth interviews to collect information from households living in the upper class areas of Magodo, Lagos and those living in the slum areas of Iwaya. The locations were chosen purposively. The responses from the interviewees indicate that both high and lower neighbourhoods in Lagos experience epileptic power supply and that resident have learnt to cope with the power situation using diverse strategies of coping. The various responding mechanisms adopted by those consumers, however, are based on financial capabilities. From the interviews conducted, it was apparent that both high income and low income families tend towards the use of generators. However, they also make use of lamps and solar energy in few cases. Also, both classes of families use gas stoves as an alternative to electric stoves for cooking. And occasionally they use kerosene stoves. Planning ahead was a recurring feature among the households, which indicated how they prepared for the eventualities of power outages. The study concludes that the way out of the problem is to fully implement the Power Sector Reforms. In addition, there is the urgent need to diversify the sources of generating electricity in Nigeria and mitigate the problem of corruption, which has been the bane of the sector over the years.