Women In Energy Embarks on Nationwide Cooking Gas Expansion Drive

Samuel Mobolaji

The Women In Energy Network (WIEN) has flagged off a national campaign that aims at distribution of gas cylinders including gas content to households, in a significant move to create awareness on dangers of cooking with dirty fuels and expand adoption of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas in Nigeria.

The huge capital intensive project would take place across all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

This initiative involves free distribution of 100 gas cylinders per annum and knowledge sharing among community groups and members on safety measures.

It’s worthy of note that the latest move was prompted by reports that over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal.

According reports about 21,000 women die annually from the usage in the Niger Delta. In fact, cooking with firewood and charcoal is equivalent to smoking 20 packages of cigarettes, noting that such is what Nigerian women go through on a daily basis.

President of the Women in Energy Network (WIEN), Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams, while announcing the launch of the initiative in Lagos on Thursday said, the WIEN is not alone in the project but is collaborating with Smart Gas Limited to deepen the penetration of the LPG.

Fatai-Williams, spoke passionately about the collaborative initiative to expand the use of LPG in our local communities a move she said aligns with the Nigerian government’s agenda for fuel diversification and economic sustainability, particularly as we work towards reducing our dependence on traditional, non-renewable energy sources.

She said, the effort will go a long way in supporting Nigeria’s fuel diversification strategy as government has recognized the importance of diversifying its energy mix to ensure long-term economic stability.

“By promoting LPG as an alternative to firewood and coal, this initiative directly supports the federal government’s National Gas Expansion Program (NGEP), which aims to increase domestic LPG consumption and reduce reliance on kerosene and other polluting fuels.” she added.

On economic efficiency and cost savings Fatai-Williams argues that LPG offers a more cost-effective and sustainable energy source for households compared to firewood, coal, and kerosene. It not only reduces household energy expenses in the long run but also helps the country reduce fuel importation costs.

The increased use of LPG mainly from local sources like the NLNG and other fractionation plants such as NEDOGAS strengthens the country’s economy by keeping energy-related funds circulating within Nigeria.

Speaking on health benefits and aligning with public health goals the WIEN president noted that one of the Nigerian government’s key goals is improving public health, particularly in underserved communities.

She said: “Household air pollution from the use of firewood and coal is a major cause of respiratory diseases in Nigeria, especially among women and children. The shift to LPG directly contributes to achieving the national health agenda by reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses and decreasing healthcare costs.”

Speaking on the environmental sustainability of the initiative in line with national targets, Fatai-Williams, explained that, LPG is a cleaner fuel compared to firewood, coal, and kerosene, and its increased adoption plays a critical role in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce environmental degradation.

She counsels that deforestation caused by firewood collection, soil erosion, and harmful emissions can be minimized as more households transition to LPG, aligning with Nigeria’s commitments to combating climate change and preserving our ecosystems.

In addition she spoke of time-saving and boosting productivity stating that, switch to LPG doesn’t just save costs, but saves time.

Collecting firewood is labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially for rural women. By making LPG widely available, we are empowering households with more efficient cooking methods, allowing women and families to redirect their time to education, income-generating activities, and other productive endeavors. This is consistent with the government’s goals of improving productivity and human capital development.” she pointed out.