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Tinubu’s Administration Starts Distributing Cooking Gas to One Million Homes

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 29th, 2024.

Tinubu’s Administration Starts Distributing Cooking Gas to One Million Homes

The federal government, led by Bola Tinubu, has initiated the free distribution of filled cooking gas cylinders to rural women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), launched the distribution exercise on Tuesday, May 28.

This initiative, under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources’ Decade of Gas outreach program, aims to reach 250,000 households annually across Nigeria over the next four years.

In the pilot phase, over 1,000 women from various area councils in Abuja received the gas cylinders. The ministry plans to expand the distribution to other states soon.

Ed Ubong, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Programme, stated that the distribution aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s gas initiative. “As part of the LPG grassroots program, we aim to distribute over a million cooking gas cylinders to women in rural areas, starting here in Apo,” Ubong said.

Ubong emphasized that cooking gas is a cleaner alternative and that Nigeria has ample gas resources. The initiative partners with private sector players under the supervision of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) to distribute about 250,000 cylinders annually nationwide.

The initial distribution in Abuja involved giving out around 1,000 filled cylinders. Ubong clarified that the project is funded by the private sector, and the gas cylinders, along with stoves, are provided for free. Training on their use is also included.

The selection of beneficiaries was done in collaboration with local council representatives to ensure the gas cylinders reach the right households. The Decade of Gas program documents the recipients’ details to ensure proper utilization.

All key players in the oil and gas sector are sponsoring the Decade of Gas program, with funding for the distribution coming from these sponsors.

Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo described the initiative as part of the clean cooking program under President Tinubu’s administration. “This event marks a significant step towards a cleaner, better, and more prosperous Nigeria. We aim to convert 250,000 households annually to clean cooking gas by 2030,” Ekpo said.

Ekpo highlighted the negative impacts of traditional fuels like firewood, kerosene, and charcoal on deforestation, environmental degradation, and health. Promoting the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is essential for a cleaner environment, improved public health, and sustainable development.

The initiative also aims to enhance women’s inclusion and create employment opportunities for youth. Transitioning to clean cooking gas will particularly benefit women, who are most affected by traditional cooking methods, advancing gender equality and economic empowerment.