A “Future of Energy Survey” commissioned by Shell reveals that more than four out of five Nigerian respondents are interested in the topic of energy, with reliable electricity ranking alongside employment and job security as their most important issue of concern.

The survey, conducted by the global market research company Ipsos on behalf of Shell International, interviewed more than 2,000 Nigerians from a range of urban and rural backgrounds across the country. It included the following key findings :

  • For 75% of Nigerians, reliable electricity is considered one of the most important issues facing society today,  ranking alongside employment and followed closely by the education system and access to healthcare.
  • 56% see collaboration between government, industry and society as key to building future energy solutions.
  • The majority of Nigerians admit they are not doing enough personally to address future energy needs, with only 32% conserving energy by switching off electrical appliances when not in use.

The survey also includes insights on Nigerians’ current energy usage patterns. For example, 45% of respondents use the bus as their principal means of transport and only 20% own a car, motorbike or other form of motorized vehicle.

Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, commented, “It is encouraging that many respondents in Nigeria view future energy needs as high priority and are increasingly aware of the need for collaboration. In order to meet our country’s pressing energy needs, our collective focus has to be on increasing access to electricity, with a key role for natural gas.”

Shell in cooperation with Ipsos has conducted Future Energy Surveys in numerous countries since 2013 in an attempt to obtain a better understanding of the aspirations and hopes of people with regard to energy and related development themes.

David Somers, CEO Ipsos Pan-Africa commented that “in surveys conducted across the world we see the future of energy featuring prominently as a major public concern. In that respect Nigeria is on a par with countries as diverse as New Zealand, Korea and Singapore. What is particularly interesting about the Nigerian results is the extent to which the future of energy is seen as synonymous with access to electricity. Reliable electricity is amongst the most important public issues for Nigerians.”

Mores details on the Nigeria Shell Future Energy Survey can be downloaded here.(PDF, 547 KB) - opens in new window