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‘100,000 Nigerians Die Of Firewood Smoke Inhalation Yearly’
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) said it has generated about $108billion in revenue since it started operation about 21 years ago, while giving out about $35billion as dividends to shareholders.
This is even as the company quoted a World Bank data showing that about a 100,000 Nigerians die annually due to firewood smoke inhalation and related complications, with women and children mostly affected, while advising Nigerians to move up in the ranking of the use of cleaner energy (LPG) for domestic cooking.
The General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, who spoke on behalf of the managing director of the company while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Gas, also said that Nigeria has the potential of becoming the 4th largest producer of proven gas, if the over 600 trillion cubic feet of unproven gas was monetised.
She described the use of firewood for cooking as a double-edge sword, adding that apart from death brought about by smoke from firewood, cutting down trees for firewood leads to deforestation, which was dangerous for the environment.
According to her, about 470,000 people died from smoke generated from firewood within five years, which gives an average of 100,000 people annually.
Fatayi-Williams, who said that the NLNG project remained in the mind of the founding fathers between 1960 when it was conceived and 1989, disclosed that it became a reality in 1989 when it was incorporated.
She added that while it has existed for 30 years, it has operated fully as a limited liability company with four shareholders for 21 years.
According to her, the NNPC, which represents the Federal Government on the board, controls 49 per cent shares of the company while Shell, Agip and Total control 51 per cent shares.
Fatayi-Williams said from 1999 when the first cargo sailed from Bonny Island in Rivers State to France, the NLNG has succeeded in putting Nigeria on the map as an operational company, stressing that since then, it has been safe, consistent and reliable production as an operating company.
“We buy gas, we liquefy it, we transport it, and sell it to the buyers, and get value for Nigeria LNG and for Nigeria. In the 21 years we have operated, we have delivered 5,000 LNG cargoes around the world, and we have 23 dedicated LNG ships to ensure our operation runs smoothly.
“On Bonny Island, we have six installed and operational LNG trains (the train is also known as LNG manufacturing line) of 22 million tonnes capacity.
“Our installed asset base is $11billion.
“We have generated $108billion in revenue since inception, and have delivered $35billion in dividends to the shareholders in the 21 years that we have operated, and have paid $8billion in taxes,” Fatayi-Williams said.
She explained further that in the early days of crude oil exploration in the country, 65 per cent of total gas produced in the country was flared, adding that as at today, less than 12 per cent of the gas, which is produced with crude is flared, an indication of where the country stands as at now.
Fatayi-Williams disclosed that Nigeria is currently rated 9th in the world with 200 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves, adding that Nigeria will be ranked 4th globally in gas production if the additional 600 TCF of unproven gas reserves is monetized.
She said this was a clear indication that there a great opportunity for Nigeria to move up in the ranking of the use of cleaner energy, stressing that over 470,000 persons die from firewood smoke in five years.
Quoting the World Bank data, she said about a 100,000 Nigerians die annually due to firewood smoke inhalation and related complications with women and children mostly affected, saying “compare this with the number of people who have died of Covid-19 complication which is less than 2,000 as reported by NCDC.
“The use of firewood is a double edge sword, it is not only leading to a significant number of death, we also know that cutting timber for firewood leads to deforestation, which later leads to desertification.”
“As the desert moves further down, livestock have to move to find water to drink and pasture and these have resulted to some of the security situation we have today. It, therefore, becomes very important that the LPG (cooking gas) agenda is supported to displace firewood and kerosine,” Fatayi-Williams said.
Fatayi-Williams said that as at 2007, the national consumption of LPG was 50 tonnes, adding that following the intervention of NLNG, about one million tonnes of cooking gas was consumed in Nigeria in 2019 alone.
She maintained that the current projection is that in another five years, about three million tonnes of cooking gas will be consumed in Nigeria, saying “as we displace firewood, we allow trees to grow; we allow the environment to be better, and hopefully a better future for our children.
“Cooking gas remains a cleaner alternative to firewood and kerosene,” Fatayi-Williams said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr Tony Attah, told the lawmakers that it was time to unleash the nation’s potential in gas, adding that “there are many countries Nigeria can look up to in terms of what gas can do like in Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, and in the Netherlands.
“We are ready to partner with your committee to bring about that progress that is required to unleash the potentials of gas. We have the potential to become number four in the world, we have 200 TCF proven, and we know of 600 TCF unproven; if we prove that, Nigeria will become fourth in the world.
“Because of the changing energy mix, the world is moving from dirty to clean energy and by 2050, there will be nine billion people in the world. Today, we have about seven billion; so, it is like adding one new India and China to the world: where will the energy come from?” Attah asked.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Gas, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, commended the NLNG for its pioneering status, and for putting Nigeria on the global map of major gas processing countries and significantly for making Nigeria one of the largest exporters of gas in the world.
Mutu also commended the management for the signing of Final Investment Decision (FID) for the establishment of Train 7 project, which would no doubt keep Nigeria at the top of LNG producers and exporters list.
“In addition to the foregoing the huge contributions of the NLNG to the Nigerian economy in revenue contribution, research, technology, manpower, community development and the promotion of literature and the Arts, to mention a few, cannot be over emphasized.
“We are thus looking forward to working with your team and other stakeholders to use the business model and the wealth of experience of NLNG to formulate new legislation and incentives that will assist to efficiently harness the gas resources in Nigeria for the all-round development of the nation’s economy,” Mutu added.
Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of his administration’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the scheme in the State.
Fubara gave the assurance last Friday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area in the State, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2026 Batch B Stream II orientation course.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Promise Oguzie, the governor said the State Government would remain intentional in providing the necessary support to improve the NYSC scheme and enhance the experiences of corps members deployed to the state.
He charged the corps members to be role models and quality nation-builders in their service to the good people of Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria at large.
“I charge you to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all you do. Take full advantage of all the camp programmes and activities to enrich yourselves”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps members to see their deployment to Rivers State as a “veritable opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the growth of the State in particular and Nigeria at large.”
He further charged them to serve with all sense of “integrity, discipline, and the fear of God, especially when they will be engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff that will conduct the 2027 general elections.”
A total of 3,584 corps members composed of 1,421 males and 2,163 females were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who was represented by Justice Godspower Aguma.
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor
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