FG Launches Decade-Long Cooking Gas Initiative to Boost Clean Energy in Northeast
Maiduguri, by Tada Juthan
The federal government has kicked off a 10-year Cooking Gas Outreach Program (GCOP), targeting 250 households and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Northeast. This initiative aims to transition one million homes to clean cooking gas by 2030 through strategic partnerships.
Speaking at the launch in Maiduguri on Friday, Minister for Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman, emphasised the nationwide scope of the initiative, noting that similar distributions were taking place in the South-East, South-South, and South-West regions.
“The distribution of these gas cylinders is a crucial step toward reducing the hardships faced by women and girls who rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking,” Suleiman stated. She highlighted that the program will address pollution, environmental degradation, and climate change challenges affecting many communities.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpe, underscored the devastating impact of environmental degradation, climate change, and insurgency on livelihoods in the region. He noted that the collaboration between the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRS), NNPCL, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the Ministry of Women Affairs aims to mitigate these issues by promoting clean energy alternatives.
Stockman Huub, Managing Director of NNPCL Retail, reaffirmed the program’s commitment to reducing deforestation and encouraging a sustainable transition to cleaner cooking energy. “This initiative is designed to phase out firewood, charcoal, and kerosene stoves, paving the way for a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous future for Borno State, the Northeast, and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Bukar Tijjani, applauded the federal initiative and assured the state’s full participation. He noted that the program aligns with Borno’s 25-year development plan and 10-year strategic framework for economic growth and sustainability.
The decade-long gas outreach is expected to significantly improve household energy use, protect the environment, and enhance living conditions for millions of Nigerians.
