Abstract

The danger of climate change is imminent. This study is an attempt to encourage access to LPG as a preventive measure to prevent the worst effect of climate change in Nigeria. The study exposes the determinants of access to LPG use among urban households in Abia State, Nigeria. It specifically seeks to determine the factors influencing access to LPG; identify problems associated with LPG use and preference pattern of selected cooking energy sources outside LPG. To achieve this, the study employed mixed research method in the selection of location (Aba and Umuahia) and 120 housewives as respondents. Data were obtained with structured copies of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Probit regression model. Results showed that the respondents were mostly married adults, mature with bloated household size and capable of taking decisions in their respective families. It further showed that education, income, price of LPG, availability and distance from house to place of purchase have relationship with access to LPG. More so, product unavailability, psychological fear of explosion and high cost of starting up are some of the major constraints to LPG use in the study area. Finally, it was observed kerosene is the most preferred cooking energy in urban areas. The study recommends that prices of LPG should be made affordable and product highly available. Also safety and public sensitization campaigns should be organized to educate households on the use of LPG and negative impact of climate change. This will help ease the psychological barrier to demand for LPG.

Keywords: Access; Climate change; Energy; Liquefied petroleum gas; Sustainable development