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Demand-Side Electricity Waste Reduction in Nigeria: A Behavioral Assessment and Smart Embedded Control Framework
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I8-1714348
Abstract
Nigeria continues to experience persistent electricity supply deficits despite decades of investment in generation and transmission infrastructure. While national discourse has largely focused on increasing installed capacity, comparatively limited attention has been devoted to demand-side inefficiencies and consumer-level energy waste. This study evaluates patterns of electricity misuse within a Nigerian institutional setting using the Federal University of Technology, Minna as a case study. Energy consumption estimates were obtained through observational assessment of 166 hostel rooms and shared kitchen facilities under baseline and post-intervention conditions. Results indicate that inefficient behavioral practices and the use of high-wattage, unregulated appliances contribute significantly to avoidable electricity demand. Following awareness-driven behavioral adjustments and appliance substitution, daily energy consumption was reduced by approximately 753.754 kWh. In response to observed compliance challenges and risks of electricity theft, a smart embedded power management framework is proposed. The system integrates sensing, control, and communication modules to enhance demand-side regulation and non-technical loss reduction. The findings demonstrate that structured behavioral intervention combined with intelligent monitoring architecture offers a cost-effective pathway toward mitigating electricity shortages in Nigeria.
Keywords
Behavioral Study, Energy Audit, Embedded System Proposal, Nigerian Case Study
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1714348,
author = {Olasunkanmi Felix Oyadokun, John Shewkoduza Japhet, Haruna Bege},
title = {Demand-Side Electricity Waste Reduction in Nigeria: A Behavioral Assessment and Smart Embedded Control Framework },
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {8},
pages = {1212-1215},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1714348.pdf},
abstract = {Nigeria continues to experience persistent electricity supply deficits despite decades of investment in generation and transmission infrastructure. While national discourse has largely focused on increasing installed capacity, comparatively limited attention has been devoted to demand-side inefficiencies and consumer-level energy waste. This study evaluates patterns of electricity misuse within a Nigerian institutional setting using the Federal University of Technology, Minna as a case study. Energy consumption estimates were obtained through observational assessment of 166 hostel rooms and shared kitchen facilities under baseline and post-intervention conditions. Results indicate that inefficient behavioral practices and the use of high-wattage, unregulated appliances contribute significantly to avoidable electricity demand. Following awareness-driven behavioral adjustments and appliance substitution, daily energy consumption was reduced by approximately 753.754 kWh. In response to observed compliance challenges and risks of electricity theft, a smart embedded power management framework is proposed. The system integrates sensing, control, and communication modules to enhance demand-side regulation and non-technical loss reduction. The findings demonstrate that structured behavioral intervention combined with intelligent monitoring architecture offers a cost-effective pathway toward mitigating electricity shortages in Nigeria.},
keywords = {Behavioral Study, Energy Audit, Embedded System Proposal, Nigerian Case Study},
month = {February},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I8-1714348}
}