An entrepreneur, Ms Lilian Aremu, has urged the federal and state governments as well as private sector stakeholders to promote the use of biofuel, as a better option to cooking in Nigeria.
Aremu, the Vice President Operations, Green Energy and Biofuels, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to her, biofuel gel and stove are safer and environmental friendly than gas, charcoal, sawdust and firewood.
Aremu said biofuel gel and stove should be promoted by government for good health and good environment as against the traditional method of cooking.
NAN reports that biofuel gel and Kike stove are new technology developed for cheap, economical, affordable and environmental friendly cooking.
She said people were beginning to look for substitute or alternative to cooking or other option following the hike in the price of cooking gas.
Aremu said government should partner with the company to make biofuel accessible and affordable.
According to her, there’s increase in patronage and inquiry about biofuel gel and stove and this is because people are looking for substitute or alternative to cooking gas or other option that are better than gas.
“Charcoal and firewood comes with it own challenges which include cutting of trees thereby destroying the source of oxygen, emissions and hazardous air pollution.
“Government must do all the can to support the clean cooking option for women, people, good health and promote good environment.
“We need partnership from government, private sector, impact driven organizations to make the product accessible and affordable.
“We can work together to make biofuel and stove available in every homes and affordable for everyone in Nigeria to buy even those in the rural areas.
“We will soon stop the use of charcoal and firewood, with just partnership because they are harmful to the health and environment,” she said.
Aremu said there had been increase in the patronage of biofuel gel and stove due to the increase in the price of cooking gas.
Aremu described the Kike cook stove and biofuel gel as clean cooking technology developed to address and eliminate toxic emission while cooking unlike charcoal and firewood.
The entrepreneur urged governments to formulate policies that would address harmful effects of climate change, toxic emission, and environmental hazards.
She urged government to start by promoting biofuel gel usage in the country with supporting policy adding that it would eliminate traditional method of cooking that are harmful to human health and wellbeing and environment
“Our organisation is open to partnership, we are open to sponsorship from both government and private organisation on how to make clean cooking option accessible and affordable to all.
“Government can subsidize the biofuel stove for people so as to make it accessible and affordable.
“The price of the biofuel gel can be cut in half, the stove can be cut in half so that most homes can be able to afford it in Nigeria,” she said.
Aremu said many women had resorted to use of charcoal, firewood and sawdust due to hike in the price of gas.
“We keep saying we are fighting pollution and emission and other environmental hazards but we are not adopting the right policy or doing the right thing to effect change.
“We have Lagos State Emergency Protection Agency in Lagos, what are the things the are doing in Lagos to make the environment clean and safer.
“We need to ensure that this clear option is well accepted and available for everyone. Government must began to promote clean cooking option for women and the general society.
“With clean cooking, we will see drastic change when it comes to pollution, health and environment.
“The human health is very important as well as the children at home and to prevent gas explosion generally during the Yuletide, biofuel gel is the option.
“There are many incidents of gas explosion and fire that shouldn’t be, but with biofuel and stove, it is the safer better and more efficient.
“So when there’s partnership to make it lesser and make it affordable, everyone will benefit from it.
“Biofuel should be made accessible and affordable and it is the safest cooking option so far right now in the world.
“If people can actually accept it, adjust their mind set to it, they will be better, the environment will be better and the future will be better.
Aremu advised the pubic to cook clean, cook to live and not cook to die during the Yuletide by embracing the biofuel and stove.
She urged the public especially women to partner with green energy and become a member and make money through networking and bonuses.
Aremu added that Kike stove and biofuel gel is not for the rich only adding that any member of the society can afford it as a member.
“Cooking is an essential part of our life that we can not do without, so lets do it the right thing, I just wish more area can do so.
“For some places in the north, they have ban the use of wood but they cut down all trees, I just wish more state can do so.
“For people cooking with charcoal and firewood, it is not the safest, it is not the best.
“I know things are hard right now in the country but there are also opportunities in our own business that you can be making money as a member and use clean energy product.
“People can ask how and we will show them the way. There are people on our network now, they are not rich, people are saying the product is for the rich, but they are not rich.
“They are on the network making money earning as a networker, and they can buy the product comfortable from there bonuses and take care of their family.
“This is the option we have, impact clean health, clean cooking, clean environmental and empowerment for women,” she said.
