No single beneficiary was present at the hall in the Presidential Aso Villa today where Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo kick-started the distribution of 750 units of clean cooking stoves and 18,000 wonder bags purchased by the outgoing Jonathan government at a total cost of N9.2 Billion.
The occasion was dominated by officials of the Ministry of Environment which was given the responsibility of purchasing the stoves.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had, in November 2014, approved the purchase of N9.2 billion worth of clean cooking stoves and wonder bags for rural women under the National Clean Cooking Scheme.
Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at a brief occasion said: “One of the important global problems today is environmental problem and desertification. In Nigeria it is one of our major environmental problems. And as a result, one of the major causes is this problem of cutting the trees and using the wood as a source of energy for cooking.
“This idea then came up to have alternative sources for cooking for our women. Mr. President has graciously approved this project for the initial take off under the Environment Ministry with the sum of N9.2 billion to procure these cooking utensils and distribute them all over the country to our women.
“And by so doing, contributes to stopping the usage of trees for firewood for cooking. In addition to that, it has added value of saving women from inhaling the smoke, which is responsible for the yearly death of about 90,000 women.
“We believe this is a very important contribution towards arresting desertification in Nigeria.”
On her part, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laraba Malam, said only 15 percent of N5 billion amounting to N1.3 billion has been paid to the contractor for all the supplies so far made. [myad]
This is what happens to a nation whose leadership have lost not just a sense of direction but also a sense of shame – stoves!