By: Amadi Vincent Uzoma
The Federal Government on Tuesday began distributing free refills of cooking gas cylinders, commonly known as camping gas, to rural women in the Federal Capital Territory, with a target of distributing them to 250,000 households every year nationwide.
He distributed cylinders to over 1,000 women from different area councils in Abuja as part of the pilot phase of the program and said the distribution would be expanded to other states during the appropriate time.
The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources is leading the initiative in the Decade of Gas awareness program launched by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the programme, Gas Decade Program Coordination Director, Ed Ubong, said the distribution of cooking gas to rural women is in line with the initiative. He said: “Under the LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) core programme, we will participate to see how we can supply over a million cooking gas cylinders, mainly to women in rural areas, that’s why we went to Apo.
We could have stayed in the central area of Abuja, but here we tried to cover all the general areas of the Abuja district. Nigeria has significant gas resources, so we are collaborating with partners in the private sector, working under the supervision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), to see how they deploy over one million bottles, or about 250,000 bottles per year, in all regions of Nigeria “This is a pilot phase and we are committed to it as more Nigerians start using gas.
Today, we distribute about 1,000 full cooking gas cylinders in Abuja. When asked to identify the source of funding for the project, Ubong replied: “It is private capital. And we distribute it for free. Gas tanks are refilled for free and are equipped with a stove. Additionally, training will be provided free of charge. “Once we get the right funding, we can even start charging for free.
But it is a journey that we have been on and we hope that Nigerians will support us in deploying as much cooking gas to rural women and eliminating all forms of charcoal, firewood, and kerosene. On how beneficiaries were selected, Ubong said the Gas Decade program “worked very closely with local council representatives who knew where all the rural women were. The Smart Gas team also visited women in their homes to ensure that we distributed this cooking gas to the right women. “The key element of this program is the documentation.
Every woman who has received a gas cylinder, we have collected their phone number, we know their address, and we will continue to work with them to make sure that they actually use these gas cylinders.
Ubong disclosed that the Decade of Gas programme, which includes the free distribution of cooking gas, receives funding from all major stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
“The Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas) chairs the Gas Decade committee, but we have many sponsors, probably everyone in the oil and gas sector. From domestic oil and gas producers to international oil companies, they are all part of the Decade of Gas agenda,” he said.
On his part, the Gas Minister described the exercise as the first foray into LPG and the distribution of LPG cylinders, as part of President Tinubu’s clean cooking initiative. Ekpo said: “This event is an important step in our collective journey towards a cleaner, better and more prosperous Nigeria.
This event fits perfectly with the President’s theme: “From Gas to Prosperity; Hope is renewed. “Today we are not just presenting an agenda but we are on a mission to change the lives of millions of Nigerians across our six geographical regions.
By 2030, we want to convert 250,000 homes a year to clean cooking gas, which is an ambitious but achievable target. “This program demonstrates our unwavering commitment to reducing over-reliance on solid fuels, which have long been the primary source of energy for many households and include firewood, kerosene, and Charcoal.
Ekpo said the negative consequences of using these conventional fuels cannot be overestimated, as they contribute significantly to deforestation, environmental degradation, and harmful effects health related to indoor air pollution. “To ensure a cleaner environment, improve public health and promote sustainable development, we must encourage the use and utilization of liquefied petroleum gas.
Our initiative today is a clear sign that we are moving in the right direction and is a direct reflection of this determination. “Furthermore, the aim of this effort is to improve women’s participation and provide employment opportunities for our youth.
Switching to clean cooking gas is especially beneficial for women, who are disproportionately affected by the health effects of traditional cooking methods. “We are promoting gender equality and economic empowerment by providing safer and more efficient energy solutions,” said the Gas Minister.
Speaking on behalf of FCT women, Sarah Tukura, thanked the government and partners for this initiative. “We are grateful for this gesture and we thank the government and all partners for taking this commendable initiative to help us stop using firewood and charcoal in our village,” he said.
