Nigerian Govt Announces Plan to End Use of Firewood

Over 80,000 women die early from toxic smoke. This smoke comes from firewood and traditional cooking stoves.

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMoWA) is taking action. They have partnered with key stakeholders in the energy sector. Their goal is to end these premature deaths.

Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim spoke at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. She expressed hope that this initiative will help Nigerian women overcome energy poverty.

Mrs. Sulaiman-Ibrahim mentioned using solar-powered equipment for agriculture. This will promote clean solutions for homes.

The initiative aims to reach women in all 774 local government areas. Energy poverty is not just a technical issue; it’s a social injustice. It traps women in unpaid labor and economic dependence.

In many communities, women spend up to eight hours weekly gathering firewood. The initiative will provide access to solar home systems and clean cooking technologies.

It will also offer solar water pumps, e-mobility tools, and other useful appliances across Nigeria.

Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), shared more details. Under the $550 million Nigerian Electrification Project, about eight million Nigerians benefited.

This project also impacted 35,000 businesses, including 12,000 women-led businesses.