Kehinde Fajobi
Nigerians have been urged not to resort to firewood for cooking due to the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
This warning came from climate change advocates and researchers at a programme held in Abuja on Tuesday, titled “Maximising Energy Transition Opportunities in Nigeria.”
The price of LPG, commonly known as cooking gas, has surged from N1,350 to N1,500 per kilogram, with the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder in some parts of Abuja rising by 41.6 per cent to N17,000. This increase has sparked concerns that many may revert to the use of firewood, a traditional but harmful cooking method.
Amara Nwamkpa, Director for Partnership and Development at the Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, acknowledged that the spike in gas prices could push some Nigerians toward firewood. However, he cautioned against this shift due to the health risks associated with smoke inhalation.
“The transition to clean cooking is not an attempt to completely eliminate firewood but to reduce exposure and inhalation of smoke, which is a major cause of respiratory diseases and contributes to 40 per cent of pneumonia cases in the country,” Nwamkpa said.
He emphasised the need for Nigerians to consider renewable energy and clean cooking solutions.
“There are clean cooking stoves that use less firewood and incorporate basic insulation technology. Local artisans can build these stoves, which could significantly improve health and living conditions for those at the grassroots,” he added.
Olumide Onitekun from the Africa Policy Research Initiative also highlighted the health hazards of firewood cooking, stressing the need for continued advocacy to educate people about these dangers.
“Health-wise, using firewood is not safe due to the harmful emissions. Clean cooking must be domesticated to improve health and environmental conditions,” Onitekun stated.
He pointed out that the cultural reliance on firewood presents a challenge but insisted that government policies should promote renewable energy initiatives.
“There needs to be a policy shift to stimulate private sector involvement in renewable energy, despite the initial costs,” he noted.
Patrick Okigbo, Founding Partner of Nextier Advisory Limited, in his presentation, reinforced that the shift towards renewable energy is essential for the country’s future.
“Energy transition is driven by climate change, not scarcity or efficiency, and Nigeria is moving in that direction. There will come a time when we no longer rely on crude oil,” Okigbo projected.
The experts emphasised the need for a balanced approach to energy transition while urging Nigerians to adopt cleaner and safer cooking methods.