Climate Change: FAO Distributes 123,508 local three-stone stove in Northeast, Targeting 24000 household in Borno
By Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
In it’s efforts to drastically cushion the effects of climate change. The United Nations food and agriculture Organization has distributed local three-stone stove otherwise known as safe-kits in long decade, three most affected states of Borno Yobe and Adamawa states respectively.
Mr Al Hassan Cisse, the Head of Northeast sub-Office, Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated this while launching the 2023/2024 distribution of SAFE kits (Fuel-Efficient Stoves and briquettes) to beneficiaries on Monday the 18th December 2023 in Mainari community Jire local govt. Within the Maiduguri metropolis, Borno state.
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Al hasan Cise says For the 2023/24 intervention, FAO targets 24,500 households across seven LGAs in the state. Adding that 10,000 households in (Bama/Banki), 5Ố00 in Monguno, 3000 in Dikwa, 3500 in Ngala, 2500 in Damasak and 1500 in Jere local govt area respectively.
He further explained that with funding support from the governments of Norway, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, the ECHO, and the Central Emergency Response Fund, this programme was initiated in 2018.
AL hasan emphasized that items have reached about 123, 508 households In the northeast region, excuding the 2023/2024 distribution we are launching today in Jere, Borno state.
Al Hassan Cisse reiterated that FAO is one of the leading agencies of the United Nations in Nigeria that has continued to provide development and humanitarian support to the government of Nigeria, both at national and state levels.
He said that the Crisis in this region comes with many challenges; the most daunting is access to food and cooking energy. Like in all rural communities in Nigeria, firewood is the primary source of cooking energy for households, particularly in Borno state. However, women and children are often tasked with collecting firewood in dangerous forests that are inhabited by non-state actors, thus exposing them to harassment, violence, abduction, and even death.
This practice compounds the unsustainable cutting down of trees for logging, which leads to accelerate deforestation,desertification, and increased carbon emissions. It is also important to note that cooking with fuelwood using three-stone stoves causes high air pollution and exposes the user to other health risks from smoke inhalation, particularly respiratory illnesses. Mr. Cise added.
The northeast Bureaw chief of FAO Further stated that despite this, fuelwood has remained the only source of cooking energy for people in rural communities, and they have continued to take the risk of going to the forests source it. To enhance the protection of women and children and the environment, FAO, through its Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) Program, is supporting the distribution of SAFE kits affected households and to reduce the associated risks.
“Our experience from the post-distribution evaluation of households that received FES in the past reported a 50% reduction in firewood usage due to the stove’s high heat value, which cooks food faster than the local three-stone stove. The reduction in expenditure on fuelwood was 58%, and the frequency of fuelwood scouting time was reduced from four times a week to 1.5 times a week, thus reducing the risk of exploitation of vulnerable groups”
Ealier speaking in her welcome remark the energy specialist, FAO Dr Yakaka Maina welcome entire dignitaries to the historic and life changing event with the distribution of safe kit, marking the significant moment for all l. ”Today we come together and bring sustainable energy to vulnerable women in Borno state to make access to alternative energy to the women in this Community.
Commissioner of Agriculture and naturals resources represented by Alh Bukar Kolo who stated by commending FAO’s
invention beyond the reach of everyone, adding that FAO has done alot of intervention we honestly and sincerely thank you for this wonderful job you’re doing.
On his part commissioner for environment Eng Amed Kois who was also represented by Hajiya Lady Aliyu Maina said FAO has made a unique compelnt to bring alternative source of energy to control deforestation.
She said people rely on cutting of tress which make people to continously rely on the unnecessary killing of our trees. He call on the people of Community to discourage the people from killing of trees for use for firewood to avoid deforestation.
Representative of commissioner of Agriculture and naturals resources Alh Bukar Kolo has extolled the developmental effort put in place by tinmely invetervening which had gone beyond the reach of everyone. FAO has done alot of intervention we honestly and sincerely thank you for this wonderful job youre doing.
The chairman transition committee Jire local govt, permanent secretary of minsiteu of women Affairs, Chief Imam of Mainari, Bulama and other dignitaries.
