Advancing clean cooking transition in Nigeria through public debt and governance quality

Abstract

Access to sustainable cooking remains a major development challenge in developing economies, where traditional cooking methods still dominate. This study investigates how governance quality and public debt influence the adoption of clean cooking technologies in Nigeria from 2000Q1 to 2022Q4 using the Quantile-on-Quantile approach. Findings reveal that control of corruption, regulatory quality, rule of law, and voice and accountability consistently promote access to clean cooking, especially at higher quantiles. However, political stability and government effectiveness show limited influence at lower quantiles, reflecting persistent volatility. Public debt has minimal impact at lower quantiles, indicating that limited borrowing constrains investments in clean energy infrastructure. At higher quantiles, increased public debt supports greater government spending on sustainable energy, accelerating the clean cooking transition. The study recommends improved governance and responsible debt management to enhance clean cooking access and promote environmental sustainability in Nigeria.