The Lagos State Government has launched the distribution of eight million clean cookstoves, targeting lower-income communities across all 57 LGAs and LCDAs. The project, launched in Makoko, aims to slash emissions, reduce health risks from open-fire cooking, and generate $1 billion in carbon credits over the next 15 years.
Unveiled under the 80 Million Clean Cookstoves Project in partnership with Green Plinth Africa, the initiative kicked off with the symbolic distribution of eco-friendly stoves in the riverine Makoko community. The stoves are free of charge and use biomass-based fuel briquettes made from agricultural waste—an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional firewood.
According to Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, the project not only offers a clean, fast, and safe cooking method but also supports the government’s long-term strategy to earn carbon credits through the proposed Lagos Carbon Exchange (LCX).
“This project is about cleaner air, healthier families, and economic transformation,” Oshodi stated. “As these cookstoves replace harmful traditional cooking methods, Lagos earns carbon credits. Those credits will be traded on our upcoming Lagos Carbon Exchange, with returns reinvested in infrastructure and social programmes.”
The clean cookstoves are expected to reduce harmful indoor air pollution—a major contributor to respiratory illnesses among women and children in low-income households. Traditional cooking with firewood exposes users to dangerous emissions equivalent to smoking several packs of cigarettes daily.
Dr. Adebola Odunsi, Chief Transformation Officer of Green Plinth Africa, emphasized the stoves’ durability and sustainability. “Each stove has a lifespan of over 30 years,” he said. “This initiative will change the economic trajectory of households, reduce deforestation, and directly impact national health and energy outcomes.”
The cookstoves, when actively used, will earn certified carbon credits, which can be monetized through international climate finance platforms. The Lagos Carbon Exchange (LCX) is designed to facilitate this trade, with a projected earning of $1 billion from 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide offset annually.
The initiative is also set to stimulate the local green economy. Yahaya Mohammed, Technical Coordinator of the 80 Million Cookstoves Project, disclosed that three briquette production factories will be established in each state, providing jobs and fueling access.
“The cookstoves will use briquettes made from sawdust, rice husk, and other agro-waste,” Mohammed said. “This project is registered with the United Nations, and carbon emissions avoided will be monetized to sustain it.”
Community leaders praised the move. Chief Victor Panke, Baale of Adigbon, Makoko, said, “We’ve heard promises before, but this time, it’s real. Our women will now cook without smoke, and our children will live healthier.”
Residents like Mrs. Biodun Wusa and Dele Aladetan echoed similar sentiments, noting the significant health and economic benefits. “No smoke, no stress. It’s faster and the food tastes better,” Wusa said.
The project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), touching on health (SDG 3), clean energy (SDG 7), climate action (SDG 13), and gender equality (SDG 5), given its focus on easing the cooking burden traditionally placed on women.
Uchechukwu Igweonyia Omolewa, a representative from LASHMA, described the effort as “an accelerator for universal health coverage,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of clean cooking and public health.
As Lagos leads the charge in clean energy innovation and climate finance, the success of this program could set the template for other subnational governments in Africa. The clean cookstove revolution is not just about fuel—it’s about the future.