By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gas 360, Emmanuel Uwandu on Friday, 26 April, 2024 revealed that over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal.
Uwandu added that about 21,000 women die annually from the usage in the Niger Delta.
He stated this in his keynote presentation during the 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas Depot Project ceremony organised by Windek Energy Limited held at Atabrikang Aquaha Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, 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.
“Cooking with firewood, and charcoal is equivalent to smoking 20 packages of cigarettes For an average smoker that is too much, that is what women in Nigeria have to deal with daily.
“In Nigeria 98, 000 women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal and across the 774 local governments that translates to about 2,700 deaths annually.
“In Niger Delta alone 21, 000 women die from the use of firewood and charcoal. If we bring that home to Akwa Ibom State 31 Local governments 75 women die every year from the use of firewood and charcoal”.
While noting that cooking with ‘dirty’ fuel is the highest killer, the MD lamented that attention is given to malaria and HIV Aids while nobody is talking about dirty fuel.
“Today, in Nigeria, cooking with dirty fuel is the highest killer of Nigerians but for some reason malaria and HIV get the attention, and nobody talks about cooking with dirty fuel. Globally, 4.6bn dollars was provided to fight against malaria and HIV for Nigeria but clean cooking receives less than 200 million dollars, we have to do more” Uwandu said.
He called on Nigerian governments both at the national and sub-national levels to unlock global opportunities for clean cooking adding that what the global committee wants is to “see clean action plans on policy and support for the government to transform their communities from dirty fuel to clean cooking.”
Also speaking the Managing Director of Windek Energy Limited, Nosa Igiehon Okunbo said that the company is not just launching a project but igniting a movement to encourage Energy use across the country ‘
Okunbo added that the company is committed to ensuring that deaths resulting from dirty cooking are prevented.
” In our latest LPG facility we are not just launching a project, we are igniting a movement to receive energy use across Nigeria. Every year more than 600 women in Africa lose their lives to smoking from dirty cooking fuel, this is a preventable tragedy that we are determined to tackle headlong. With this facility, we are moving beyond business as usual and driving fuel for a future where free energy is accessible to all,” she added.
In his brief remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum, Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo appreciated Windek for their commitment to the project which he said marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards Energy security and economic prosperity.
“I am delighted to join you today at this groundbreaking ceremony for 20,000 metric tonnes of LPG depot at Atabrikang Aquaha, Ibeno within the Liberty Oil and gas free zone here in Akwa Ibom State. First and foremost, I extend my appreciation to Windek Energy for their visionary commitment to this project which marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards Energy security and economic prosperity.
“The establishment of this Depot underscores the importance of strategic investment in the gas sector which is pivotal for driving industrialisation creating jobs and improving the livelihood of our people. As we gather here today to reaffirm our collective resolve to harness the immense potential of our natural resources, particularly in the gas sector, Nigeria is blessed with standard gas reserves and it’s incumbent on us to leverage these resources efficiently and sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations,” Ekperikpe Ekpo said.
The state Governor, Umo Eno who was represented by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Ayakenyi while expressing his happiness over the project, said that the establishment of the project not only underscores the state’s commitment towards enhancing Energy capacity but signifies the growth and progress of Akwa Ibom State.
“This event marks a significant milestone in the development of our state energy infrastructure and the broader economic landscape of Nigeria. The establishment of this Depot not only underscores our commitment towards enhancing our energy capacity but also signifies the potential for growth and prosperity in Akwa Ibom State”.
In 2019, the UN disclosed that nearly 4 million individuals perished prematurely due to illnesses caused by household air pollution.
Source: The Punch online
