Population growth, Industrial employment and Clean Energy use in Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of population growth and industrial employment on renewable energy use in Nigeria. Using annual time-series data and employing the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) estimation technique with robustness checks from Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), the analysis examines the long-run relationships among the variables. The results reveal that population growth has a positive and statistically significant effect on renewable energy consumption, suggesting that rising demographic pressures may stimulate demand for cleaner energy sources. In contrast, industrial employment and economic growth exert negative effects on renewable energy use, indicating that Nigeria’s structural transformation and growth process remain largely dependent on conventional fossil fuel energy. The findings highlight the need for integrated energy and industrial policies that align economic expansion with renewable energy development to support Nigeria’s transition toward sustainable and low-carbon growth.