Only one in ten households in the country uses clean energy sources and technologies for cooking.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, revealed this in a press release in Abuja on Saturday, signed by the Head of his Press and Public Relations Unit, Ibrahim Haruna.
He said implementing the National Clean Cooking Policy of Nigeria is expected to create around 10 million direct jobs for young people.
The minister who explained that Nigeria is facing a silent energy crisis, said traditional cooking with firewood and other polluting fuels, such as kerosene and charcoal, is claiming lives, causing deforestation, and contributing to climate change, while also placing a burden on women.
He said clean cooking solutions will save lives, empower women and youths, improve livelihoods, and combat climate change.
Recall that the National Clean Cooking Policy of Nigeria was approved by the Federal Executive Council on 25 March 2024.
The goal of the policy is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, improve health, create jobs, enhance livelihoods, protect the environment, prevent deforestation, and help families, institutions, and businesses save time and money.
The minister said this would enable Nigeria to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution target, net zero by 2060, the Energy Transition Plan, and a carbon-neutral clean cooking future by the year 2060.
He stressed that the ministry has visited major local clean cookstove manufacturing companies in Nigeria for collaboration to scale up the production of clean cookstoves and briquettes using local raw materials, as well as to train youths in production skills.
Balarabe added that the implementation of this policy will create about 10 million direct jobs for young people, ranging from the assembly of local raw materials to production and the distribution chain of clean cookstoves, in addition to the carbon credit earnings which will be facilitated by the development of a national carbon market framework that is currently in process.
He further pointed that the ministry is engaging development partners such as the World Bank for support and partnership in achieving the set targets, which align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” he stated.