The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of free gas cylinders as part of an initiative to promote clean cooking energy, aiming to convert at least one million households to clean cooking gas by 2030. The program, known as LPG Grassroots Penetration under the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative, targets the distribution of approximately 250,000 gas cylinders to women in rural areas across Nigeria.
At the launch event in the Apo Resettlement area of Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasized the administration’s commitment to increasing domestic gas consumption. Ekpo personally oversaw the distribution of 1,000 gas-filled 3kg cylinders to rural women from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
“We’re not only introducing a program today; we’re on a mission to change millions of Nigerians’ lives in our six geographical zones,” Ekpo stated. He highlighted that the government’s advocacy for gas usage as the primary cooking fuel would significantly improve the health of women and girls, who are most affected by the harmful effects of traditional cooking fuels.
Ekpo further elaborated on the program’s ambitious target: “By 2030, we want to convert 250,000 houses a year to clean cooking gas, which is a lofty but attainable target. This program 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, including firewood, kerosene, and charcoal.”
The Coordinating Director of the ‘Decade of Gas’ program, Ed Ubong, noted that the initiative, funded by the private sector, aims to eliminate the use of wood and kerosene in households. Aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s theme, “Gas to Prosperity, a Renewed Hope,” the program focuses on distributing over a million cooking cylinders, primarily to rural women, leveraging Nigeria’s abundant gas resources.
This effort will be carried out in partnership with the private sector, under the supervision of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), aiming to foster a significant shift towards cleaner, healthier cooking practices across the nation.
