FUELWOOD POVERTY AND HOUSEHOLDS' ADAPTION IN JOS NORTH LGA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

It has been established that fuelwood is the primary source of energy throughout many of the poor countries for achieving domestic chores. This study was conducted in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, with the aim of determining the extent of fuelwood availability, access and how users adapt to unavailability in Angwan Rogo, Angwan Rukuba, Rikkos and Tudun Wada communities. Quantitative research design was adopted and simple random sampling was used to select 4 communties. Data were gathered by administering carefully designed copies of questionnaire to 318 household heads. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean, aided by SPSS-23, while results were presented in tables. Findings have shown that more females participated in the study, and half of the participants were between 40-49 years old. Nearly all the participants completed various levels of formal education, married and have more than six household members. Many of the respondents earn livelihoods by engaging in non primary activities, and majority of them belong to the low- to- middle income groups. Furthermore, results showed that anthropogenic activities have caused fuelwood poverty "to a great extent” (mean = 67.0%), of which 90.9% of households were heavily relying on fuelwood. Majority (50.9%) of the respondents averred that fuelwood supply to Jos currently used to come from Bauchi State, and 53.8% of the respondents affirmed that the decline in forest areas and importation of fuelwood from neighbouring States are clear evidence of the existence of fuelwood poverty in the study area. Overall, many (mean = 79.0%) respondents had to device various strategies to cope with fuelwood poverty in the area. The paper recommended the need for increased afforestation, use of improved fuelwood stoves, introduction of clean energy sources, and enlightening the public on best coping strategies in order to safeguard the environment from degradation.