FG commences distribution of free gas cylinders to one million homes
Adewale Akintaro
In a renewed efforts to promote clean cooking energy for families across the country, the Federal Government has said it will soon commence distribution of free cooking gas cylinders to one million homes.
The government said it was targeting getting at least one million homes to move to clean cooking gas by 2030.
The programme, which is under the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative, tagged liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, grassroots penetration, is expected to distribute about 250,000 gas cylinders to women in rural communities across the country.
Speaking at the flag-off of the programme in the Apo Resettlement area of Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who described the event as a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s quest for the deployment of cleaner fuels said the administration was determined to increase domestic gas usage.
Ekpo who supervised the handing over of 1,000 numbers of 3kg filled with gas to rural women drawn from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, explained that the government’s push for the use of gas as the cooking fuel of choice would improve the health of women and girls who bear the greatest risk in the use of traditional cooking fuel.
He stated: “We’re not only introducing a programme today, we’re on a mission to change millions of Nigerian’s lives in our six geographical zones. By 2030, we want to convert 250,000 houses a year to clean cooking gas, which is a lofty but attainable target.
“This programme is evidence of our steadfast dedication to lessening the over-reliance on solid fuels, which for a long time served as many households’ primary source of energy and include firewood, kerosene, and charcoal.
“It is impossible to overestimate the negative consequences of utilising these conventional fuels. Their contribution to deforestation, environmental degradation, and harmful health impacts from indoor air pollution is substantial.
“In order to ensure a cleaner environment, enhance public health, and promote sustainable development, we must encourage the usage and adoption of LPG.”
According to him, the initiative was a clear indication that Nigeria was headed in the right direction to improve women’s inclusion and provide employment opportunities for the youth.
Ekpo stated that transitioning to clean cooking gas will be especially beneficial for women, who are disproportionately affected by the health effects of traditional cooking methods.
“We are advancing gender equality and economic empowerment by providing them with safer and more effective energy solutions,” he added.
In his remarks, the Coordinating Director of, the ‘Decade of Gas’ programme, Mr. Ed Ubong, said the programme which is funded by the private sector would bring an end to the use of woods and kerosene in homes. He added that the ‘Decade of Gas’ programme is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s theme: “Gas to Prosperity, a Renewed Hope”.
Ubong said: “As part of the grassroots programme, we would be committed to seeing how we can move over a million cooking cylinders, mainly to women, in rural areas.
“Cooking gas is cleaner and Nigeria has significant gas resources and so we will be partnering with the private sector working under the supervision of the Minister of State Petroleum Resources to see how we can deploy over a million cylinders at about 250,000 a year to all parts of Nigeria.”
The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Ibrahim, noted that studies have shown that LPG reduces respiratory illnesses by 50 percent, which is a life-changing benefit for countless Nigerian families.
“Beyond the health solution, this is a multi-faceted initiative. The programme impacts beyond health benefits now, and I would like to state as well that the World Bank recently in a report estimates that widespread LPG adoption in Nigeria would save the nation over $5 billion annually in healthcare costs,” Ibrahim stated.
