Minister Condemns Firewood Cooking Amid Gas Wealth
Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has stated unequivocally that it is unacceptable for Nigerians to rely on firewood for cooking when the nation is endowed with vast natural gas resources. Speaking on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the launch of a federal initiative to expand access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Mr Ekpo emphasised the need to translate the country's gas wealth into tangible benefits for citizens.
"No mother should be compelled to choose between feeding her family and protecting her health. No child should inhale harmful smoke because cleaner energy remains beyond reach. No family should spend valuable hours searching for firewood when our nation is richly endowed with gas resources capable of powering safer and more dignified lives," Mr Ekpo said.
National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme Launched
The initiative, known as the National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme, is part of Nigeria's Decade of Gas Initiative. It is executed in partnership with private firms including Seplat Energy, ExxonMobil, NNPC, NLNG, Dangote Group, SPDC, and TotalEnergies, according to a statement on the Decade of Gas website. The programme aims to expand LPG access and encourage households to adopt cleaner, safer cooking fuel.
Mr Ekpo noted that Nigeria boasts over 215 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, making it one of the world's foremost gas-endowed nations. "Our solemn responsibility is to ensure that this national endowment is converted into tangible benefits for our citizens. This is the driving philosophy behind the Decade of Gas Initiative and our commitment to making natural gas the fuel that powers Nigeria's industrialisation, energy security, and shared economic prosperity," he said.
The Bayelsa activation marks the beginning of a state-by-state rollout that will bring clean cooking energy to communities across the country. The minister explained that the state-level rollout builds on a successful zonal phase implemented across the six geopolitical zones. "With Bayelsa State as the starting point, we are now moving from regional implementation to a broader state-by-state deployment designed to reach households more directly and more effectively," he added.
Call to Prioritise Niger Delta Communities
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State flagged off the free distribution of LPG cylinders at the event. He commended the federal government and its partners, stating that the people of Bayelsa will benefit immensely. "We have cried, we have fought against environmental degradation and the abandonment of our people. While the cities are built with money from our soil, we languish in poverty. We use firewood to cook, while they use gas from our land to cook. But today, the story is changing," Mr Diri said.
The governor added that it was time to think about the people of the Niger Delta and give back to them. He said he had been considering how to get Bayelsa residents to switch from firewood to cooking gas, and the launch came at the right time. "This will be the beginning of getting our women and our people out of firewood cooking," he declared.
The minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu's administration is committed to unlocking Nigeria's gas resources for national development. The launch of the initiative is described as a journey towards cleaner energy, healthier homes, and a more prosperous nation.
