The Women In Energy Network (WIEN) has launched a nationwide campaign to distribute gas cylinders with gas content to households in Nigeria. This is a significant move towards raising awareness about the dangers of cooking with dirty fuels and expanding the adoption of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas.
All 774 of Nigeria’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) would be involved in the massive capital-intensive project. 100 gas cylinders will be given out for free each year as part of the program, and members and community groups will provide information on how to stay safe.
Over 98,000 Nigerian women die every year from charcoal and firewood, according to reports. In the Niger Delta area, almost 21,000 women die every year as a result of using polluting fuels. It is worth mentioning that the everyday struggle that Nigerian women face when cooking with firewood and charcoal is like smoking 20 packs of cigarettes.
The drive for WIEN
During Thursday’s announcement of the initiative’s debut in Lagos, WIEN President Mrs. Eyono Fatai-Williams stated that the group was working with Smart Gas Limited to increase the LPG’s penetration, rather than working alone on the project.
The collaborative initiative to expand the use of LPG in local communities was enthusiastically endorsed by Fatai-Williams. She said that this move is in line with the Nigerian government’s agenda for fuel diversification and economic sustainability, especially as it strives to reduce reliance on traditional and non-renewable energy sources.
According to her, this will greatly benefit Nigeria’s fuel diversification policy, which the government has acknowledged as crucial to securing economic stability in the long run.
Why LPG should be adopted
According to Fatai-Williams, LPG provides a more sustainable and economical alternative to domestic energy sources like firewood, coal and kerosene, in terms of both efficiency and cost savings. It helps the country save money on fuel imports and, in the long term, lowers energy bills for households.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is becoming more popular, which is good for Nigeria’s economy because it keeps money from energy costs inside the country. Speaking about health benefits and how they correlate with public health goals, the president of WIEN mentioned that enhancing public health, especially in marginalised communities, is one of the main objectives of the Nigerian government.
According to Fatai-Williams, who spoke about the initiative’s environmental sustainability in relation to national aims, increased adoption of LPG is crucial to Nigeria’s attempts to decrease environmental degradation because it is a cleaner fuel than firewood, coal and kerosene.
She advised that more homes switching to LPG would help reduce deforestation from firewood collecting, soil erosion, and harmful emissions, which would be in line with Nigeria’s efforts to fight climate change and protect our ecosystems.
She went on to say that changing to LPG not only saves money, but also saves time, which in turn boosts productivity.
In addition to promoting economic growth and diversifying fuel sources, Fatai-Williams highlighted the initiative’s potential to diversify economic sources by establishing a new value chain for the distribution and services of LPG. In line with the federal government’s goal of bolstering non-oil economic sectors, the distribution channel activities will generate employment opportunities and stimulate local economies.
One of her other hopes is that it will make electricity more accessible to Nigerians.
Achieving universal access to cleaner fuels is a priority for the Nigerian government, which is why its energy policies prioritise fairness. As Fatai-Williams pointed out, safety is paramount in Nigeria’s energy regulations, thus this will greatly improve both national standards and energy safety. When handled correctly, LPG is safer and cleaner than conventional cooking techniques.
