Worried by the increasing risks of desertification to the environment and human health, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), on Tuesday advised Nigerians to embrace the use of gas as domestic source of energy, rather than charcoal.
The Department hinged the basis of its charge on the worrisome deleterious effects tree felling is causing in various communities in the country with the attendant negative climate change implications for life and fauna.
The DPR Operations Controller in Niger State, Mallam Abdullahi Isah, specifically pointed out that more trees are being cut down every day with such deforestation degrading the environment.
Isah, who gave the advice when Malam Bawa Mokwa, Zonal Coordinator in Charge of North Central Federal Information Centre, paid him a courtesy visit, appealed to the media to continue to educate Nigerians to resort to gas for their domestic energy needs in view of the benefits to people’s health and the environment.
According to him, deforestation has become a major challenge that all stakeholders should be concerned about, adding that one of the best options to mitigate the negative impact on the environment is the use of gas.
He advised: “We need to let people know that this gas that they are so afraid to use is the cheapest form of domestic energy.
“We must also encourage them to understand that gas is safe via massive education on safety measures.”
Isah cautioned that the indiscriminate resort to tree felling would make society vulnerable to natural hazards, and advised the public to always report illegal activities by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas marketers to the DPR.
Earlier in his remarks, Mokwa indicated the readiness of his centre to partner the DPR in checking diversion of petroleum products from Mokwa, Babana and Izom areas to major cities of the state.
This is even as he also appealed to petroleum resources regulatory agency to intensify its monitoring efforts along borders, promising that the federal information department is ready to provide useful information on product marketing abuses in the areas.
Mokwa lauded the DPR for sustaining petroleum products availability and reducing sharp practices among marketers in the state.
