FG to empower women in underserved communities with clean cooking solutions

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting clean energy solutions to empower women in communities across the country.

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of women affairs, spoke on Tuesday at the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Citing data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the minister said over 98,000 Nigerians die annually due to complications arising from cooking with firewood and other solid fuels.

“This is one of the highest rates in the world. Yet, for too long, this issue has been ignored, and women have paid the price with their health, time, productivity and security,” she said.

“Experts say the smoke a woman inhales daily from cooking with firewood is equivalent to smoking more than 100 cigarettes a day. That is far more than the average smoker.

“Women and children are disproportionately affected, inhaling dangerous pollutants that contribute to lung disease and heart conditions.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said Nigeria ranks among the top five countries globally with the highest number of people relying on solid fuels for cooking, despite having Africa’s largest gas reserves.

The minister said the reliance on firewood contributes to deforestation, environmental degradation, climate change, and air pollution.

She said there is a need for urgent sustainable energy solutions that can advance Nigeria’s role in the global clean energy transition and improve the lives of Nigerians.

‘TRANSITIONING ONE MILLION HOUSEHOLDS TO CLEAN COOKING’

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the LPG cylinder distribution initiative is part of the government’s efforts to transition families away from hazardous cooking practices.

She said the FG is advocating for fiscal incentives to make LPG more affordable and collaborating with state governments to integrate clean energy into social intervention programmes.

She said the programme aims to transition about one million households in underserved communities to clean cooking solutions over the next three years.

The minister also commended the support of stakeholders, including Babagana Zulum, Borno state governor, for their contributions to advancing women’s empowerment.

“The ministry has established the Steering Committee for the Nigerian Women LPG Scale-Up and Empowerment Initiative to ensure the sustainability of this transition,” she said.

“The ministry’s Strategic Roadmap for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Clean Energy Adoption will focus on mobilising resources, fostering partnerships, and implementing targeted interventions to eliminate energy poverty.

“We cannot continue to lose our mothers, daughters, and children to preventable health conditions caused by indoor air pollution.

“We cannot afford to destroy our forests at an alarming rate when a cleaner, safer alternative exists.

“We cannot, in good conscience, claim to be working for women’s empowerment while leaving them trapped in a cycle of energy poverty.

“The ministry will not rest until every Nigerian woman, no matter where she lives, has access to clean, affordable cooking solutions.”