The director general, National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salihu Mohammed Dahiru has said save 80 clean cook stoves will cushion the effect of climate change in Akwa Ibom State Communities.
This, he disclosed at the formal launch of the product during the sensitization program held at Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, last Friday.
Speaking at the event, Dahiru stated that Climate Change has become a global concern thereby causing a wide range of disasters such as flooding, and destruction of the Ozone layer due to the release of carbon into the atmosphere. He added that most countries of the world have long adopted measures to tackle Climate Change and it is expected that Nigeria is not left behind.
“Flooding is the worst effects of Climate Change and I know very well that Akwa Ibom people have experienced flooding situation. We are here to introduce a product that will help cushion the effect of climate change”. Dahiru stressed.
He assented that with the introduction of the Stainless Steel Clean Cooking stove, there will be reduction in pollution which destroys the Ozone layer, as it is designed to use 80 percent less fuel and produce 80 percent less pollution compared to the traditional stoves.
According to him, “this stove will help to tackle the problems of climate change because with it, the rate of cutting down trees to make firewood will reduce. The Stove reduces smoke and the risk to human health’’.
Dr. Dahiru said, Akwa Ibom has been chosen as one of the states to benefit from clean cooking solutions for African and Asian households.
“Our interest is to provide clean cooking solutions to households in Africa and Asia and improve the livelihood of the people living in the state. Therefore, we have carefully chosen Akwa Ibom State for this sensitization”. He explained.
Furthermore, Dahiru lamented over the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Kerosene in the country, stressing that people out of ignorance spent lots of money on firewood and other substances to enable the fire to burn faster while cooking.
“Lots of people spend huge amount of money to buy firewood, Kerosene and even Diesel to set fire for cooking. They use their money to buy things that are not relevant for healthy cooking, but with Atmosfair SAVE80 clean cook stoves, you don’t need 80% of firewood fuel or kerosene,” he stressed.
In his remarks, the immediate past Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan, Amb. Faruk Yabo said, the whole world is presently witnessing the worst effects of Climate Change which can be attributed to human actions.
Amb. Yabo, said Atmosfair has been at the forefront of pushing for initiatives and action against Climate Change for years now, hence the invention of SAVE80 cook stove.
“We are here to present the solution that Atmosfair has proffered to help us combat Climate Change, because it has gotten to a very critical point. If we have good policies and programs, the natural gas that is coming from the state alone can solve the country’s energy problem.
The consciousness is beginning to be there, he said, assorting that the invention will help Nigeria to be habitable, profitable and prosperous.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary, ministry of environments Mrs. Iqwo Abia disclosed that the invention by Atmosfair is in line with what the state is doing to combat natural disaster like flood.
“Apart from flood control, we also do our best to support communities hit by disasters like flood, wildfire, assisting farmers whose farmlands or source of livelihood was ravaged by flood, she explained.
In addition, she commended the gesture of the Director General of Atmosfair and his team for choosing to host the sensitization program in Akwa Ibom State, in order to educate our women on the use of SAVE80 clean cook stoves. Mrs. Abia affirmed the commitment and readiness of the Akwa Ibom State Government to partner with Atmosfair, to mitigate and eradicate unhealthy processes, as well as check flooding in the state. She added that SAVE80 stove is a huge relief to Akwa Ibom women.
Nya Etok encouraged the people to see the need to acquire the product for themselves irrespective of the cost and called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to subsidize the price and make it affordable for all classes of people in the state.
The sensitization program was graced by dignities such as the Director General of National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru; the Immediate past Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan and Chairman Advisory Board, Atmosfair, Amb. Faruk Yabo, Director of Project, Atmosfair LTD., ABdulrahman Bawa; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Iquo Abia; paramount Rulers of Ikot Ekpene, Etim Ekpo and Obot Akara, and over 400 omen representatives from the three senatorial districts of Aka Ibom State.