The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has stated that the implementation of the National Clean Cooking Policy of Nigeria is set to create approximately ten million direct jobs for youths.
The policy will focus on the assembly of local raw materials, production, and distribution chains of clean cookstoves, along with developing a national carbon market framework for carbon credit earnings.
The Minister disclosed in Abuja that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health, create jobs, protect the environment, and prevent deforestation.
Balarabe emphasized that the policy’s implementation would help Nigeria meet its Nationally Determined Contribution target, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2060, as part of the Energy Transition Plan and carbon-neutral cooking future.
He noted that the Energy Transition Plan includes 20% of clean cooking coming from electric sources, both grid and off-grid, and 54% from Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The share of fuel-efficient biomass cookstoves is expected to rise to 13% before declining after 2030. “Other components of the 2030 target include 3% for biogas, representing ethanol, biodiesel, methanol, and 5% representing briquettes from mostly agricultural waste,” Balarabe added.
Lawal explained that the policy aligns with the clean cooking targets outlined in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (2021), National Climate Change Policy (2021-2030), Climate Change Act (2021), and National Gas Policy (2017).
“This policy was unveiled at the 17th session of the National Council on Environment on 24th April 2024 at NAF Event Centre, Abuja,” he stated.
The policy will be implemented by relevant federal ministries, departments, and agencies and will be shared with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for adoption and implementation.
It emphasizes the importance of states, local governments, and stakeholders in achieving key recommendations, including awareness creation, integrated solutions, capacity building, and financing.
Balarabe further mentioned that the Ministry has visited local clean cookstove manufacturing companies to collaborate on scaling up production, and is engaging with development partners like the World Bank for support in achieving the targets in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
