by Laila Ibrahim

The Federal Government has approved N9billion for the distribution of 750,000 Clean Cook Stove and 18,000 wonder bags.

The approval became necessary in a bid to reduce pressure on forest resources caused by indiscriminate felling of trees which leads to deforestation and desertification.

The stoves and Wonder bags which are meant for women in the rural areas is to be distributed under the National Clean Cooking Scheme (NCCS), which seeks to curb the use of solid fossils like firewood and charcoal for cooking, by providing 20 million clean cook stoves through-out the country in 5 years.

A recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) research showed that Nigeria tops the list with about 10 percent of women that suffer various ailment from the use of firewood for cooking.

Following a memo by the Minister of Environment, Laurentia Mallam, the Federal Executive Council also approved the free distribution of 18,000 wonder bags across the nation.

The Wonderbag, a non-electric slow cooker invented by Sarah Collins, can prevent the emission of half a ton of carbon dioxide a year, and could save a poor family a tenth of their income by cutting fuel costs.

Mallam explained that in distributing the stoves and Wonderbags, women who registered and bought fertilizer through the e-wallet system will be considered first.

She disclosed that about 2 million are currently on that database and the stoves will be distributed in batches to them, while also adding that all women groups in the country will be involved in the distribution to ensure that there is equitable distribution.

After deliberations, the council approved that the stoves be locally assembled so as to provide jobs for Nigerians among other benefits.

Council also unanimously ratified the President’s anticipatory approval for the contract in favours of Messrs Integra Renewable Energy Services Limited in the sum of nine billion, eighty seven million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira only (N9,287,250,000.00) inclusive of VAT, with a delivery period of 12 weeks.