Oladapo Olatunbosun, President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, has stated that many Nigerians rely on harmful cooking methods due to the government’s long-term neglect of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Speaking during Channels Television’s special 64th Independence Day programme, Channels Forum, on Tuesday, Olatunbosun emphasised that the lack of access to clean cooking fuels has contributed to higher medical expenses for most Nigerians.
“The most critical form of energy for human survival is cooking energy. How do we prepare our food?” Olatunbosun asked. “Unfortunately, in this part of the world, we’ve neglected this aspect, and the majority of Nigerians are using unsafe and unhealthy cooking methods.”
He highlighted that these alternative cooking methods not only waste time but also reduce lifespans and increase medical costs, stressing that LPG is a cleaner and healthier option. Olatunbosun expressed disappointment that despite Nigeria’s vast LPG reserves, many citizens still lack access and are forced to use less healthy alternatives. He added that much of Nigeria’s gas resources are wasted through flaring, as the country remains primarily focused on crude oil extraction.