Climate Change: Oxfam Applauds Bauchi Over Launch Of Energy-Saving Stoves.

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Kenneth Akpan, the Project Coordinator for Climate Justice for Oxfam Nigeria, has commended Bauchi State Government for launching energy-friendly stoves to curb effects of climate change.

In his remark during the launch on Wednesday, Akpan, who is the National Coordinator for Africa Activities for Climate Justice in Nigeria, said it was a positive move.

“Before now we have engaged the state in capacity building and advocacy towards pushing for budgetary allocation to see how the state can take climate matters seriously, particularly in the area of deforestation, which is serious in Bauchi,” he said.

“Alternatively, people will need energy but if there is no alternative solution most times implementation of policies can be difficult.

“So we had encouraged the use of energy saving stoves to cut down on the volume of trees being fell, while government tries to proffer permanent solution to these issues.

“So we are happy to see that as part of our engagement, the state has taken the lead in trying to see that these climate actions are being taken seriously.

“We feel it is a plus to our engagement, and the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies and different stakeholders, and we feel it is something that should be applauded”

The Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Mr Danlami Kawule, at the flagging off ceremony, reiterated the commitment of the state government to mitigate the effect of climate change.

Kawule said 3500 households are set to benefit from the energy saving stoves, adding that the issue of climate change is a challenge the administration was ready to tackle headlong to protect the interest of the people.

He assured that using the stoves would improve the health and economy of beneficiaries and curb deforestation.

It will be recalled that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State had approved the production of 360 locally made energy-saving stoves at the cost to N4 million as a way of curbing felling of trees.