The Federal Government, FG, has started giving out free gas cylinders to promote clean cooking energy for families nationwide. The aim is to transition at least one million homes to clean cooking gas by 2030. This initiative, part of the ‘Decade of Gas’ program called LPG grassroots penetration, plans to distribute around 250,000 gas cylinders to women in rural areas to reduce the use of firewood, cooking stoves, and other harmful fuels.
During the program launch in the Apo Resettlement area of Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, expressed the government’s commitment to increasing domestic gas usage. Ekpo oversaw the distribution of 1,000 3kg gas-filled cylinders to rural women from the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory. He highlighted that promoting gas as the preferred cooking fuel would enhance the health of women and girls, who are most at risk when using traditional cooking fuels.
The minister, Ekpo stated that they are not only introducing a program but also on a mission to change millions of Nigerians’ lives in all various six geographical zones.
And by 2030 they want to convert 250,000 homes annually to clean cooking gas. He mentioned further that the objective is ambitious yet achievable. The program reflected the unwavering commitment of the government to reducing the heavy dependence on solid fuels, which have long been the main energy sources for many households, including firewood, kerosene, and charcoal.
In his comments, the Coordinating Director of the ‘Decade of Gas’ program, Mr. Ed Ubong, mentioned that the initiative, supported by the private sector, aims to eliminate the use of wood and kerosene in households. He also emphasized that the program aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of “Gas to Prosperity, a Renewed Hope.”
He lastly stated that “As part of the LPG grassroots programme, we would be committed to seeing how we can move over a million cooking cylinders, mainly to women, in rural areas”.
