On Friday, 11th September 2020, I accompanied the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, who happens to be my mentor and role model to Adamawa state, for the inauguration of the National Cooking Gas Project.
She was in the state to flag off the distribution of cooking gas among women and girls, who are the main beneficiaries of the project. Adamawa is one of the 11 states hit by desertification, so the Minister was also there for tree planting in order to mitigate deforestation.
This of course, is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s palliatives programme, aimed at alleviating the negative impact of COVID-19 and its negative effects on families and the vulnerable people in the society. The main objective of distributing cooking gas to women and girls, is to reduce the use of firewood by women, which has negative effect on their health as a result of inhaling smoke as well as the polluted air as they cook.
In addition, cutting down trees for firewood, causes deforestation and deforestation in turn adds to greenhouse gas effects, which is the underlying cause of global warming – mainly due to rise in temperature. As human beings breath out carbon dioxide, plants utilize it for photosynthesis to make their own food. If there are no much trees to take up the carbon dioxide that we give out, the environment gets heated up and temperature rises as a result of the accumulation of the carbon dioxide and other gases such as methane gas.
That is why tree planting is encouraged. As we cut down trees for agricultural activities, urbanization and industrialization, to balance up, we plant trees. This project therefore is very critical in achieving clean and sustainable environment and which is one of the sustainable development goals.
This exercise will be replicated in all the states of the federation for a cleaner and sustainable environment and better health promoted by the Women.
The Governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintir, who is the people’s governor, Fresh Air Governor and his wife, Her Excellency, Hajiya Lami Fintiri appreciated the Minister for what she is doing for the women under the leadership of President Buhari.
The Governor observed that cooking gas is better and cheaper than firewood and that Adamawa has prepared a friendly environment for the project. He also promised that the cylinders will be judiciously distributed, without discrimination along party lines.
It was a very successful outing
