29th November, 2017
A stove manufacturer, Mr Biodun Olaore, has urged the government to create public awareness on indoor air pollution and deforestation to enable Nigerians to embrace the clean cooking technology.
Olaore, who is the Country Director, Envirofit Nigeria, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Envirofit Nigeria, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Envirofit International, owns a clean cooking stove factory in Lagos.
Olaore said: “Governments should play a vital role in creating the required awareness about the hazards of indoor air pollution and deforestation.
“This will help people to actually embrace this cooking technology and they can actually see the benefit, which ultimately translates to a better environment for all.’’
He said that his company embarked on the manufacture of efficient, clean cooking stoves so as to encourage the people to engage in air pollution-free activities, adding that the stoves, which produced less smoke and cooked faster, were cost-effective.
“We manufacture the stove to support government’s policies and efforts to reduce carbon emissions and effects of greenhouse gases.
“This technology is actually out there to reduce the consumption of fuel wood and carbon emissions, while preventing the hazards associated with cooking with biomass fuel,’’ he said.
Olaore, who said that the government had yet to subsidise the stove production, said that the stove was affordable and cost-effective, taking into cognisance the high cost of cooking fuel nowadays.
The country director said that the price of one unit of the stoves ranged between N5,500 and N15,000, depending on the fuel that was suitable for that particular stove.
“We produce these stoves to help people to live better lives; this technology is actually out there to improve the life of the common man in Nigeria.
“As a way of reaching out to the people, particularly those living in the rural areas, we try to partner with organisations that work with women in the rural areas at every forum,’’ he said.
He said that the response of the organisations had been very positive, adding, however, that the only challenge facing the venture was the low purchasing power of most women in the rural neighbourhoods.