Use Of Firewood, Charcoal Kill 98,000 Nigerian Women Annually -Expert
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gas 360, Emmanuel Uwandu on Friday revealed that over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal.
Uwandu added that about 21,000 women die annually from the usage in the Niger Delta.
He stated this in his keynote presentation during the 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas Depot Project ceremony organised by Windek Energy Limited held at Atabrikang Aquaha Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
He revealed further that cooking with firewood and charcoal is equivalent to smoking 20 packages of cigarettes, noting that such is what Nigerian women go through on a daily basis.
Uwandu said, “Cooking with firewood, and charcoal is equivalent to smoking 20 packages of cigarettes For an average smoker that is too much, that is what women in Nigeria have to deal with daily.
“In Nigeria 98, 000 women die annually from the use of firewood and charcoal and across the 774 local governments that translates to about 2,700 deaths annually.
“In Niger Delta alone 21, 000 women die from the use of firewood and charcoal. If we bring that home to Akwa Ibom State 31 Local governments 75 women die every year from the use of firewood and charcoal”.
While noting that cooking with ‘dirty’ fuel is the highest killer, the MD lamented that attention is given to malaria and HIV Aids while nobody is talking about dirty fuel.
“Today, in Nigeria, cooking with dirty fuel is the highest killer of Nigerians but for some reason malaria and HIV get the attention, and nobody talks about cooking with dirty fuel. Globally, 4.6bn dollars was provided to fight against malaria and HIV for Nigeria but clean cooking receives less than 200 million dollars, we have to do more” He stated.
He called on Nigerian governments both at the national and sub-national levels to unlock global opportunities for clean cooking adding that what the global committee wants is to “see clean action plans on policy and support for the government to transform their communities from dirty fuel to clean cooking.”
Also speaking the Managing Director of Windek Energy Limited Nosa Igiehon Okunbo said that the company is not just launching a project but igniting a movement to encourage Energy use across the country ‘
Okunbo added that the company is committed to ensuring that deaths resulting from dirty cooking are prevented.
She added ” In our latest LPG facility we are not just launching a project, we are igniting a movement to receive energy use across Nigeria. Every year more than 600 women in Africa lose their lives to smoking from dirty cooking fuel, this is a preventable tragedy that we are determined to tackle headlong. With this facility, we are moving beyond business as usual and driving fuel for a future where free energy is accessible to all”
In his brief remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum, Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo appreciated Windek for their commitment to the project which he said marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards Energy security and economic prosperity.
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