The Federal Government says five million Nigerian households are expected to benefit from the National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme by 2030 as the country expands access to cleaner cooking fuel.
The programme was launched in Bayelsa State in July and has now been activated in Akwa Ibom.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Gas Ekperikpe Ekpo said the initiative was intended to move households away from firewood, charcoal and kerosene toward liquefied petroleum gas.
The programme is expected to cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Government is targeting about one million households annually and more than 10 million homes over the longer term.
Akwa Ibom has been allocated 27,000 filled LPG cylinders for distribution to verified beneficiaries.
The government said beneficiaries could receive up to six refills within a year as part of an effort to encourage continued use rather than one time adoption.
Programme officials said a depot hub node exchange model would place refill points within short distances of participating communities.
A digital platform is expected to track cylinders, refills and household adoption.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the recirculation and monitoring system would support safety and accountability.
The programme forms part of Nigeria’s broader ambition to increase domestic LPG consumption and reduce reliance on dirtier cooking fuels.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno said the initiative could also stimulate investment in LPG bottling, cylinder manufacturing, maintenance, storage, transportation and gas processing.
At the same event, the minister launched a rural women entrepreneurship programme under which 3,000 women are expected to receive N100,000 each.
That represents N300 million in direct support.
Government said clean cooking and women’s economic empowerment were linked because both affected household health, income and welfare.
The nationwide rollout will continue state by state as authorities attempt to build a sustainable market around clean cooking rather than simply distribute cylinders.
