By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has launched a clean energy initiative that will provide 23,700 school teachers and environmental vanguards across the state’s 27 local government areas with free cooking gas cylinders and refill vouchers as part of measures to combat deforestation and promote environmental sustainability.
The programme, unveiled on Thursday during the 2026 National Tree Planting Campaign and Distribution of Clean Cooking Stoves and Gas Cylinders in Maiduguri, is designed to reduce reliance on firewood while encouraging the adoption of cleaner household energy.
Governor Zulum said the initiative would be implemented in phases, with 5,000 gas cylinders and clean cooking stoves to be distributed initially to teachers and environmental vanguards in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area. Beneficiaries in the remaining 25 local government areas will receive theirs in subsequent phases.
He disclosed that the state government would also provide refill vouchers, allowing beneficiaries to recharge their cylinders through designated vendors.
“I am particularly delighted that today’s programme also includes the distribution of clean cooking stoves and 5,000 cooking gas cylinders to school teachers.
“The programme does not end with the distribution of the gas cooking cylinders; we shall also be giving them vouchers that they will use to refill their cylinders from designated vendors,” Zulum said.
According to the governor, the initiative is expected to significantly cut dependence on firewood, improve public health, protect forest resources, reduce carbon emissions and enhance the living conditions of thousands of households.
He assured that all eligible teachers across the state would eventually benefit from the programme.
“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.
“The Borno State Government under my leadership will provide cylinders to the remaining teachers in other local government areas of the state,” he added.
Zulum reaffirmed that environmental restoration remains a critical component of his administration’s post-conflict recovery and reconstruction agenda, stressing that rebuilding communities must be accompanied by efforts to restore the ecosystems that sustain them.
“As we reconstruct communities affected by conflict, we must equally restore the ecosystems that sustain those communities. Sustainable peace and sustainable development cannot flourish in a degraded environment,” the governor said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising environmental sustainability under the Renewed Hope Agenda and praised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her support toward advancing environmental protection initiatives.
The governor also acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Environment, its agencies and development partners for supporting Borno State’s efforts to build a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable future.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawan, applauded Governor Zulum for integrating clean energy solutions into the state’s afforestation campaign, describing the initiative as an innovative strategy for tackling deforestation.
“I want to say here that this is the first time I have seen tree planting connected with practical alternatives. The governor is giving people alternatives by providing 5,000 clean cooking stoves to teachers. If you can take 5,000 people away from using firewood, that is a remarkable achievement,” the minister said.
Lawan also announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to plant four million tree seedlings, noting that Borno State had already planted more than 20 million trees, a feat he described as worthy of emulation by other states.
He called on governments at all levels, schools, faith-based organisations, private sector operators, youth and women’s groups, and other stakeholders to embrace tree planting as a shared responsibility aimed at preserving the nation’s environment for future generations.
