Experts Warns Against Firewood Use Amid Rising Cooking Gas Prices, Advocates Clean Energy Solutions

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

Amid rising cooking gas prices, climate advocates and energy experts have urged Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, to avoid switching to firewood for cooking due to health risks and environmental concerns. 

Speaking at a program on "Maximizing Energy Transition Opportunities in Nigeria" held in Abuja, experts highlighted the need for cleaner alternatives. 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) revealed that with the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) increasing to N1,500/kg in several States and refilling a 12.5kg cylinder reaching N17,000 in Abuja, some Nigerians are reconsidering firewood. 

However, Director for Partnership and Development at the Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, Amara Nwamkpa, advised against this shift, warning about the dangers of smoke inhalation and its link to respiratory diseases, including pneumonia.  

Nwamkpa emphasized that transitioning to clean cooking doesn’t mean eliminating firewood entirely but using improved stoves that minimize wood consumption and reduce smoke exposure. 

He further highlighted that clean cooking technologies, which can be built by local artisans, can improve health and reduce hardship in rural areas.  

OTN News similarly gathered from the Africa Policy Research Initiative, Olumide Onitekun, who stressed that firewood emissions pose significant health risks, underscoring the importance of continuous advocacy to educate people on adopting cleaner alternatives. 

He acknowledged the cultural preference for firewood in some communities but stressed the need for policies that attract private sector investment in renewable energy solutions.  

However, Founding Partner of Nextier Advisory Limited, Patrick Okigbo, noted that Nigeria’s energy transition is not driven by scarcity but by climate imperatives, projecting that the country will eventually shift away from fossil fuels like crude oil.