Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has launched an ambitious clean energy and environmental restoration programme with the distribution of 23,700 free cooking gas cylinders and clean cooking stoves to teachers and environmental vanguards across the state’s 27 local government areas.
The initiative, which also provides beneficiaries with gas refill vouchers, is aimed at reducing dependence on firewood, curbing deforestation, improving public health and strengthening environmental resilience as Borno advances its post-conflict reconstruction and sustainable development agenda.
Speaking on Thursday in Maiduguri during the 2026 National Tree Planting Campaign and the official rollout of the clean cooking programme, Zulum said the intervention would be implemented in phases across the state.
Under the first phase, 5,000 cooking gas cylinders and clean cooking stoves will be distributed to teachers and environmental vanguards in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area, while beneficiaries in the remaining 25 local government areas will receive theirs in subsequent phases.
The governor explained that the programme extends beyond the distribution of cooking equipment, as beneficiaries will also receive vouchers to enable them refill their gas cylinders through designated vendors.
According to him, the initiative is designed to tackle the twin challenges of energy poverty and environmental degradation by providing affordable and sustainable alternatives to firewood. “This initiative will significantly reduce dependence on firewood, improve household health, protect our forests, reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life of thousands of families across our communities,” Zulum said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding the programme to teachers across all local government areas, stressing that ecological restoration remains central to Borno’s recovery efforts. “As we reconstruct communities affected by conflict, we must equally restore the ecosystem that sustains the communities. Sustainable peace and sustainable development cannot flourish in a degraded environment,” the governor added.
Zulum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising environmental sustainability under the Renewed Hope Agenda and acknowledged the contributions of First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, towards promoting environmental conservation nationwide.
He also praised the Federal Ministry of Environment, its agencies and development partners for supporting efforts to build a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable Borno State.
Flagging off the 2026 National Tree Planting Campaign, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, described Borno’s approach as an innovative model that combines afforestation with practical clean energy alternatives.
Lawal noted that providing households with clean cooking options was critical to reducing pressure on Nigeria’s forests and ensuring the long-term success of environmental conservation programmes. “This is the first time I have seen tree planting connected with practical alternatives. The Governor is giving people alternatives by distributing 5,000 clean cooking stoves to teachers. If you can remove 5,000 households from dependence on firewood, it is a major achievement,” the minister said.
He disclosed that four million tree seedlings would be planted under the campaign, adding that Borno State had already planted more than 20 million trees in recent years as part of its environmental restoration drive.
Describing the achievement as remarkable, the minister pledged to encourage other states to adopt similar initiatives that integrate climate action with clean energy access.
Lawal called on federal and state governments, schools, faith-based organisations, the private sector, youth and women groups, as well as citizens, to embrace tree planting as a civic responsibility essential for combating climate change and environmental degradation.
He emphasised that the campaign represents more than an environmental exercise, describing it as a strategic investment in public health, sustainable livelihoods and the long-term security of future generations.
The combined rollout of clean cooking solutions and the planting of four million trees underscores Borno State’s broader environmental strategy, which seeks to rebuild conflict-affected communities while restoring ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.
