By Moses Akwashiki
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Foundation has provided cooking gas cylinders and stoves to more than 2,000 residents of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of efforts to promote clean cooking and reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal.
The intervention, held on Tuesday at the palace of the Gomo of Kuje, HRH Alhaji Dr. Haruna Tanko Jibrin, was aimed at promoting clean energy adoption, reducing deforestation and raising awareness about the health and environmental dangers associated with traditional cooking methods.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the PENGASSAN Foundation and National Treasurer of PENGASSAN, Comrade David Owen, said the initiative was part of the association’s commitment to giving back to communities and promoting environmentally sustainable energy solutions.
Owen, who represented the PENGASSAN President, Comrade Engr. Festus Osifo, said Kuje was particularly important to the foundation’s clean cooking campaign because of the area’s high dependence on firewood.
According to him, a significant proportion of the firewood consumed in Abuja is sourced from communities around Kuje, making the area strategically important to efforts to combat deforestation.
He said the foundation was encouraging residents to transition from firewood and charcoal to cleaner energy sources to reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are here to create awareness for the Kuje people on clean energy and clean cooking gas. We want them to understand why we need to move from charcoal and firewood to renewable and green energy.
“This will help us stop deforestation and encourage environmental friendliness.”
Owen said the foundation had empowered residents with cooking stoves and gas cylinders, adding that the Kuje intervention was part of a broader programme being implemented in communities across the country.
He disclosed that similar interventions had been carried out in other communities, while the foundation was also undertaking projects in Kebbi State, including borehole construction, and supporting persons living with disabilities in Warri.
According to him, the foundation had also embarked on school renovation and other community development projects.
Owen said the PENGASSAN Foundation was established last year as part of the association’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
“We are not the government and it is not our responsibility to provide these things. But we feel that if we are earning, we should reach out to other people and let them get what we are getting.”
Also speaking, National Treasurer of the PENGASSAN Women Commission and Secretary of the PENGASSAN Foundation, Comrade Maryann Ada, said the clean cooking initiative would particularly benefit women, who bear much of the burden of household cooking.
She said prolonged exposure to smoke from firewood could have serious health implications for women and other household members.
“Women do more of the cooking. When you look at what firewood does to women and their health, you find out that a lot of sicknesses arise from the use of firewood for cooking.
“So today, we have come to empower them. We have come to say no to firewood cooking and give them a better way of cooking so that they can live better lives with their children.”
Ada said the foundation would monitor the distribution to ensure that the cooking equipment and gas cylinders reached the intended beneficiaries and were put to proper use.
She added that the foundation would continue to engage members of the community to assess the impact of the intervention.
The National Secretary of the PENGASSAN Women Commission, Comrade Chidinma Anyanwu, urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment provided and embrace clean cooking.
Anyanwu said the initiative would contribute to reducing deforestation and improving air quality in the community.
She disclosed that the PENGASSAN Foundation was funded through contributions made by members of the association from their salaries.
She commended the leadership of PENGASSAN, under President Comrade Engr. Festus Osifo, for supporting the foundation’s interventions despite prevailing economic challenges.
The Gomo of Kuje, HRH Alhaji Dr. Haruna Tanko Jibrin, commended the PENGASSAN Foundation for bringing the clean cooking initiative to the community.
The monarch said the intervention would reduce the hardship and security risks faced by women who travel long distances in search of firewood.
He recalled that residents previously obtained firewood from nearby locations but were now forced to travel between five and 10 kilometres because of rapid development and the depletion of available wood.
“Because of development, people can go as far as five to 10 kilometres before getting wood. So, this has reduced the suffering of our women.
“There is also the security aspect. For a woman to leave here and go five or 10 kilometres in search of firewood is a risk.”
The traditional ruler expressed appreciation to the PENGASSAN Foundation, describing the intervention as a welcome development that would help reduce hardship and improve the welfare of vulnerable members of the community.
He assured the foundation of the community’s appreciation and support for the initiative.
Some beneficiaries also recounted the difficulties they experienced while relying on firewood for cooking.
One of them, Danladi Sakima, said women often encountered dangerous animals, including scorpions, while travelling into the bush in search of firewood.
She described the experience as stressful and dangerous and expressed appreciation to the PENGASSAN Foundation for providing an alternative source of cooking energy.
Another beneficiary, Blessing Elisha, said prolonged exposure to firewood smoke had affected her health, particularly causing swelling of her eyes.
She said switching to cooking gas had improved her cooking experience, describing clean cooking as faster, safer and more convenient.
The PENGASSAN Foundation said the intervention was expected to reduce harmful emissions associated with firewood and charcoal cooking while promoting cleaner air, improved health and environmental sustainability.
The initiative is part of growing efforts by stakeholders to promote clean cooking in Nigeria as the country seeks to reduce dependence on traditional cooking fuels, combat deforestation and improve public health.
The foundation said the campaign was anchored on its commitment to promoting “clean energy for human today, better tomorrow.”
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