By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria has launched an ambitious clean cooking program aiming to distribute 80 million efficient cookstoves nationwide.
The initiative seeks to reduce indoor smoke, ease pressure on forests, and generate carbon credits for climate finance.
Project backers project that the Federal Government could earn up to $5 billion annually in verified carbon credit revenues once the program reaches full scale.
Lagos State is an early anchor for the project, pledging to provide six million free cookstoves, with distribution starting in June 2025 in Makoko.
Former Central Bank Deputy Governor Tunde Lemo emphasized that the program is structured, scalable, and nationally endorsed, describing it as one of the largest clean cooking interventions globally.
The program targets households relying on firewood, charcoal, or other solid fuels, which produce harmful smoke, particularly in poorly ventilated kitchens.
According to the Clean Cooking Alliance, in 2023, over 167 million Nigerians lacked access to clean cooking, representing nearly 74 percent of the population.
Access to clean fuels is far lower in rural areas, where only about 9.7 percent of people had clean cooking options, compared to 48.7 percent in urban centers.
Household smoke is a major public health concern, linked to heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, COPD, and lung cancer.
The World Health Organization estimates that household air pollution caused approximately 2.9 million deaths in 2021, including over 309,000 children under five.
Cleaner cookstoves reduce harmful emissions while improving time and energy efficiency for households, especially women, who traditionally gather fuel.
The program ties emissions reductions to carbon markets, where verified cuts in greenhouse gases generate tradable credits.
Credible carbon credit generation depends on delivery, consistent use of stoves, verified emissions reductions, and adherence to UN-backed pathways under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.
Nigeria already has 18 registered cookstove projects producing 3.4 million carbon credits, but the 80 million-stove rollout represents a dramatic scale-up.
Achieving projected revenues will require effective distribution, sustained use, rigorous monitoring, and strong alignment with international carbon credit standards.
If successful, the initiative could advance public health, reduce deforestation, generate climate finance, and position Nigeria as a leader in clean cooking and carbon markets in Africa.
The program combines environmental, economic, and social objectives, but its ultimate success depends on execution, oversight, and market demand for credits over the coming years.
This large-scale rollout marks a significant step in linking household energy transitions to national climate action and revenue generation strategies.