‘N9.2bn stove money can create 100,000 jobs’

A statement issued by the alliance noted that Nigeria loses 3 per cent of its forests annually, partly as result of the cutting of trees for firewood. “If the N9.2 billion set aside for this project was properly used, the lives of thousands of Nigerians and our forests would be saved, and our women and youths will be empowered with new job opportunities.”
The group was of the opinion that by investing the remaining N7.3 billion of this contract in local production, the federal government would create over 100,000 new direct and indirect jobs, and support at least 5, 000 new small businesses.
“At least half of this amount should be dedicated to women and youth entrepreneurship programmes for production of clean cookstoves, using locally available raw materials,” the group added.
The Nigerian Alliance proposes that the already procured stoves be set aside for high value humanitarian purposes such as support for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is already working with local and international partners to set up the Safe Access to Fuels and Energy for IDPs in the North-East. These stoves could be part of this initiative.
Partners of the Alliance are worried that controversies created by alleged lack of transparency and accountability in the award and implementation of the N9.2 billion project would damage the reputation of this emerging clean energy industry. Further, we are also concerned that the initiative focuses on the importation of stoves that can easily be produced by Nigerians. By investing this money in Nigeria, we could have created thousands of new jobs and supported new and existing small businesses.