The International Centre for Energy and Environmental Development (ICEED), has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to set aside 10 per cent of the power intervention fund for the “alternative energy financing” programme.

The Executive Director of the centre, Mr Ewah Eleri told newsmen in Abuja last Thursday that CBN, should ensure that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission also established a clear framework for the utilisation of the fund.

Eleri also called for the use of a proportion of the ecological fund to finance cooking energy; establish a donor’s platform on pro-’poor energy; and the mobilisation of civil society in providing community-level energy services.

He said that the centre, in its annual report to the Federal Government, suggested the need to support the access on the National Policy Agenda.

He said that the report presented new evidence of the growing energy poverty in Nigeria.

Eleri analysed the level of government, private sector and donor funding for energy services that would benefit poor people and review international best practice in expanding access to energy services.

He lamented that about 15.3 million households had no access to grid electricity, while 72 per cent of the population depended on traditional fuel wood for cooking.

“Contrary to the expectations of the National Energy Policy and Vision 2020, deepening poverty has forced a reversal in the transition to modern and efficient energy forms.

“Today, more Nigerians are climbing down the energy ladder moving from electricity, gas and kerosene to fuel wood and other traditional bio-mass energy forms,’’ he said.

Eleri also said that the Federal Government’s response to the challenge had been inadequate, and funding pro-poor energy access was in decline.

“The report finds a significant decline in political interest for expanding electricity services to rural areas.

“Even though Nigeria has embarked on ambitious power sector reforms, ensuring that electricity reaches the poorest has over the years taken a back seat.

“Not only is investments in rural electrification in decline, Nigeria has no history of providing annual budgets for cooking energy programmes,’’ he said

WHO statistics showed that about 95,300 Nigerians, mostly women and children die annually from smoke coming from the use of fire wood.