IMPACT ANALYSIS OF AIR POLLUTION AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY, 2010-2021: EVIDENCE FROM LIQUID FUELS ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the impact of emissions from the use of liquid fuels (kerosene, diesel and natural gas) as sources of energy at homes and industries on the death rate of children below the age of five years in Nigeria.  Nigeria as an oil producing country is dependent on the oil for at homes and industries without much consideration for the adverse effect of this practice.  Ex-post-facto research design and time series data from 2010-2021 sourced from the World Bank data bank were used in the study. To avoid spurious results, the time series data for the study were subjected to unit root test using Augmented Dickey Fuller. The variables were found to be stationary at levels.  Results of the Ordinary Least Square multiple regression analyses reveal positive and significant relationships between kerosene and diesel emissions and infant mortality rate in Nigeria thereby accepting the alternative hypotheses for the variables and rejecting the null.   However, the association between natural gas emission and infant mortality is negative and insignificant thereby accepting the null hypothesis and rejecting the alternative.  The results indicate that increase in the use of kerosene and diesel as sources of energy will undoubtedly lead to increase in infant mortality while the use of natural gas reduces the death rate of infants in Nigeria.  It is therefore recommended among others that government should make natural gas affordable to the public since it is the cleaner energy source.