FG’S cooking gas project to reach 28.8m people
AS part of its programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country, the Federal Government plans to provide cooking gas to 28.8 million households and improve biomass cook stoves for 7.3 million Nigerians by 2030.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, who explained this at the National Clean Cooking Trade Fair in Abuja, organised by the ministry, said the event stands as a testament to the collective commitment to advance clean cooking solutions for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria.
Salako said the intervention projects are expected to save over 30,000 lives yearly, build a domestic clean cooking industry and create new jobs, reduce deforestation, assist the government in meeting its climate change commitments, and pledge to reduce Short- Lived Climate Pollutants ( SLCP).
Salako regretted that traditional open- fire cooking is a silent killer, causing over 77,000 deaths yearly, adding, it also causes vision impairment, and low birth weight and puts people at a higher risk of suffering burnt injuries.
He observed that gathering firewood exposes women and girls to gender- based violence, snake bites and other physical injuries, and it was a major driver of deforestation and contributes to the loss of nearly 400,000 hectares of forests yearly.
He said: "Emissions from residential cooking represent about 55 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and about 700,000 metric tonnes of harmful fine particulate matter ( PM2.5) emissions. This constitutes a significant proportion of Nigeria’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
"By transitioning to cleaner and more efficient cooking technologies, we can improve air quality, protect public health, and mitigate the impacts of climate change in our communities. To achieve these clean cooking targets, a strong regulatory framework is needed
"The National Clean Cooking Policy when fully implemented will improve public health by reducing health risks associated with traditional cooking practices, enable environmental sustainability through the use of clean cooking technologies and solutions by reducing deforestation, GHG emissions, and enhance energy access and affordability in Nigeria." MEANWHILE, Global North countries have committed to providing at least $ 20 billion in ecosystem financing, saying that this underscores the importance of inclusivity in combating the numerous planetary emergencies in the world.
Chair, Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance, Salako asserted at the forum organised by Stakeholder Democracy Network ( SDN) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID) in Abuja.