Clean cooking policy to generate 10m job opportunities- says Minister of Environment

August 10, 2024.

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has said Implementing the National clean cooking policy of Nigeria is expected to create around 10 million direct jobs for young people.

Balarabe revealed this in a press release, signed by the Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit, Ibrahim Haruna, in Abuja on Saturday.

The Minister also revealed that only one out of ten households in Nigeria use clean energy sources for cooking.

He said, “Nigeria is facing a silent energy crisis. Only one in ten households in the country use clean energy sources and technologies for cooking.

“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. Clean cooking solutions will save lives, empower women and youths, improve livelihoods, and combat climate change,” Balarabe said

The YorubaTimes recall that the ministry inaugurated a National Clean Cooking Committee under the administration of the former Nigeria President, Muhammodu Buhari, on 27 May 2022, with the aim of expanding clean cooking energy to be easily accessible to every households in Nigeria.

However, the National Clean Cooking Policy was drafted by the Committee, expected to achieve it 2030 clean energy solution goal.

Part of the goals is to mitigate greenhouse gases, improve health, create jobs, enhance livelihoods, protect the environment, prevent deforestation, and help families, institutions, and businesses save time and money.

The National Clean Cooking Policy of Nigeria was approved by the Federal Executive Council on 25 March 2024.

The Minister has said the initiative would help the country achieve it net zero 2060 targets among other energy transition plan.

He added, “In line with the Energy Transition Plan, 20 per cent of the total clean cooking target shall come from electric cooking, comprising grid and off-grid sources, 54 per cent from Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

“The share of fuel-efficient biomass cookstoves will rise to 13 per cent before its expected decline in a post-2030 clean cooking scenario. Other components of the 2030 target include three per cent for biogas, representing ethanol, biodiesel, and methanol, and five per cent representing briquettes from mostly agricultural waste.

“It is noteworthy that the policy aligns with the clean cooking targets in the updated NDC (2021), the National Climate Change Policy of Nigeria (2021-2030), the Climate Change Act (2021), and the National Gas Policy (2017).

“This policy was unveiled at the 17th session of the National Council on Environment on 24 April 2024. It was subsequently launched during the National Clean Cooking Fair on 18 July 2024 in Abuja, following the inauguration of the national implementation committee. The policy will be implemented by the relevant Federal MDAs and transmitted to the 36 states and the FCT for buy-in and domestication,” Balarabe said.

“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.

“In conclusion, 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.