The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has announced the commencement of the implementation of the National Clean Cooking Policy, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s commitment to sustainable energy and emissions reduction.
Speaking at the 2024 National Clean Cooking Forum, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Honourable Minister of Environment, underscored the government’s resolve to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from this vital initiative.
In his address, Mallam Lawal detailed the government’s progress, stating that the Ministry has established an implementation committee.
He confirmed that efforts are underway to finalise the necessary activities, paving the way for concrete steps toward policy implementation.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the government has allocated 5 billion Naira in the 2025 budget specifically for the execution of the policy.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s support for clean cooking initiatives, recognising them as a crucial pathway to reducing emissions and achieving Nigeria’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060.
This year’s theme, ‘Clean Cooking Energy for All in Nigeria: Prioritizing Inclusion,’ highlights the urgent need for equitable access to clean cooking solutions as part of Nigeria’s broader energy transition strategy.
Despite advancements in promoting cleaner cooking technologies, recent trends indicate a concerning regression, with many households reverting to traditional polluting fuels.
This reversal is largely driven by the rising costs of cleaner alternatives, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which has become increasingly unaffordable for a significant segment of the population.
Also addressing the Forum, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, represented by the Director of Women Affairs, pledged the Ministry’s ongoing support to expand clean cooking access for rural women.
She highlighted the Ministry’s efforts in distributing clean cooking technologies to rural women across 21 states, including Ekiti, Kwara, Edo, and Bayelsa, reaffirming their commitment to safeguard rural women who are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution.
Inga Stefanowicz, Team Lead for Green and Digital Economy representing the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, emphasized the importance of inclusive sustainable development.
She noted that the theme of the 2024 Clean Cooking Forum aligns with the United Nations’ focus on gender inclusion and support for women-led businesses in the clean cooking sector, advocating for enhanced efforts to integrate gender perspectives in the energy transition.
Ewah Eleri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking, emphasised the urgent need for the Clean Cooking Implementation Committee to expedite the rollout of the National Clean Cooking Policy.
He highlighted that substantial progress in expanding clean cooking access in Nigeria hinges on the decentralisation of actions, calling for a greater focus on state and local governments.
Eleri further stressed the critical need for the Nigerian government to develop resilient, long-term financing strategies for the sector, advocating for a shift away from dependency on international development partners.
He noted that past efforts have been disproportionately centralised at the federal level, which has led to limited engagement and suboptimal outcomes at subnational levels.
Recognising this gap, the Forum incorporated a dedicated session to analyse and address the structural and operational challenges encountered by state and local governments, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and reach of clean cooking initiatives across the country.
The 2024 National Clean Cooking Forum, held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel from October 9-10, 2024, convened key stakeholders, including representatives from federal ministries and agencies, state governments, international development partners, stove and fuel producers, marketers, academia, and the media.