Isiaq Salako
Minister wants cookstove manufacturers to align with national priorities
Cookstove manufacturers have been told to align with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s priorities and President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for a cleaner and healthier environment.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Isiaq Salako, stated this during his visit to Kano.
Dr. Salako visited two cookstove manufacturing companies, Burn Stoves Nigeria Limited and Atmosfair, alongside Kano State Commissioner of Environment, Nasiru Garo.
At the companies’ facilities, Dr. Salako praised their innovation and commitment to sustainable development.
Specifically, he commended Burn Manufacturing Company for their dedication to clean cooking solutions and reducing environmental pollution through their energy-efficient and solar-powered cookstoves.
According to him, “Burn Manufacturing Company’s dedication to clean cooking solutions and sustainable energy aligns with our Ministry’s priorities and the national agenda for a cleaner and healthier environment.
“Your innovative approach and technology have the potential to transform lives and communities across Nigeria.”
Dr. Salako said the companies should fully utilize local materials and make the stoves affordable and accessible throughout the country.
He also advised them to improve production, keep detailed data on the quantity produced and distributed, and engage in training more people to reduce unemployment.
He suggested exploring ways to harness solar energy for stoves to prevent deforestation.
At the Burn factory, Oluwayemisi Adekunle, Government and External Affairs Lead for West Africa stated that the company aims to distribute about five million stoves in Nigeria.
She explained that 2.4 million lives have been impacted so far, with the company employing 3,500 people in Kano alone, half of whom are women.
“Burn’s stoves are the world’s most fuel-efficient natural-draft wood, with 51 per cent thermal efficiency and 81 per cent fewer emissions,” she said.
Dr. Salako asked the manufacturers to forward detailed proposals on areas of possible collaboration with the Ministry and encouraged them to continue their efforts towards sustainable development and environmental protection.
The Minister also met with Governor Abba Yusuf at Government House, Kano, to brief him on his visit and the potential for collaboration to enhance environmental sustainability in the state.
The minister recently advocated for the adoption of biogas as an alternative energy source for domestic cooking, particularly in rural areas.
He said the move will reduce reliance on charcoal, thus preserving the ecosystem, promoting human health, and curbing the exploitation of forests for charcoal production.
Dr Salako emphasized the environmental and health benefits of biogas, noting that ”it provides quick heat for cooking and is environmentally friendly, even in enclosed spaces, unlike charcoal.”
