500 Sokoto Women Receive Free Gas Cylinders From Renewed Hope Decade Of Gas Initiative

 

 By Aminu Suleman Sokoto 

No fewer than 500 women received free Gas cylinders in sokoto at the official flag off of " The Renewed Hope Decade Of Gas Initiative"

The initiative launched by the Minister for Petroleum Resources( Gas) Dr Obong Ekperekpe Ekpo,represents a concerted effort by the Tinubu administration to leverage on the country's abundant natural resources for economic development and energy transition.

          

It's aimed at converting over one million households yearly to LPG by 2030, providing cleaner and more efficient cooking fuel.

            

 Speaking at the event, which coincides with his second anniversary in office, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said Sokoto is vulnerable to desertification and if left unchecked, will result in dire environmental challenges.

        

 He explained that his administration has taken bold steps to address it by embarking on a tree planting campaign aimed at protecting the environment and creating fertile land for agricultural output.

       

The Governor argued that LPG will serve as an alternative for domestic energy use.

            

He championed the program as a way of reducing unnecessary trimming of trees and environmental degradation.

            

Flagging off the initiative, Minister Ekperekpe Obong Ekpo, said the initiative, which was launched in 2024, targets one million homes annually.

       

Ekpo said so far the people of north east, south south, and south east have begun to feel the impact of the program, saying with the larger turnout in Sokoto, he will advise Mr President to expand the targeted beneficiaries to 3 million per year.

     

The Minister further explained that the outreach is proof of President Tinubu's steadfast dedication to lessening the suffering of Nigerians from using kerosene, firewood, and charcoal to cleaner and safer energy.

       

 In an address of welcome, the state commissioner for energy and petroleum resources, Sanusi Ibrahim Danfulani, congratulated Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the people of the state for the choice of the Federal government to launch the program in the region.

     

He also commended the APC leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for initiating the state's independent power project that will soon salvage the state from the country's volatile energy sector.

         

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar thanked President Bola Tinubu for the initiative and prayed to Allah for its success.

           

 Highlights of the event were the cultural display by the Sokoto Cultural Troupe 

        

 Before the flag off ceremony an enlightenment campaign was organised for women on the importance of energy transition and handling of the gas cylinders.