Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), has revealed that the agency plans to reduce carbon emissions in the country to net zero by 2050. Abdullahi made this announcement during the maiden sensitization campaign of using improved wood stoves in rural areas held at Kurudu Village, Karu Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Saturday, where the promotion of the adoption and use of improved cook stoves in communities across the country was discussed.
According to the director-general, the country has so far achieved a reduction of carbon emissions to one percent, but not yet a 100 percent cut down. To attain this goal, Abdullahi explained that the improved wood stoves were designed to burn fuel-wood more efficiently and cleanly, reducing fuel consumption and harmful emissions. He emphasized that the campaign was not just about providing a new product, but also about creating a new culture of clean cooking.
Furthermore, Abdullahi stated that the improved cook stoves would not only save time, money, and labor for users but would also improve their health and well-being. The commission would provide a feedback mechanism for everyone to review their experiences while using the cookstoves. The director-general added that they would distribute some improved cook stoves to selected households and provide training and support on how to use and maintain them.
Abdullahi noted that cooking with a traditional biomass stove was a significant contributor to household air pollution, which causes millions of premature deaths annually, especially among women and children. He said that it contributes to deforestation, climate change, and energy poverty, which are serious challenges that Nigeria must address. For the country to achieve its net-zero carbon emission goal by 2050, Abdullahi revealed that they would need to attract $4 billion annually until 2050, which they have pledged to cut emissions to net-zero.
To ensure the sustainability of this campaign, Abdullahi stated that they have engaged with local leaders, women groups, youth groups, and other stakeholders to make it inclusive and participatory. Mrs. Ladi Nahum, a women’s leader, commended the commission for its gesture on behalf of Kurudu women and promised to continue sensitizing other families on the usage of cookstoves for efficiency. Nahum added that they were using firewood, which was very expensive, time-consuming, and had carbon emissions, which was not suitable for their health.
