Greenplinth Africa partners with Benue State government to deliver two million clean cookstoves and climate financing opportunities in Lagos

A significant climate initiative is taking shape in Nigeria as the Benue State government signs a major agreement with Greenplinth Africa to distribute two million clean cookstoves to households across the state.

The move is designed to reduce reliance on firewood, cut harmful emissions, and improve the quality of life for families—especially in rural communities.

The agreement was finalized during the Green Conference in Lagos, where government officials, climate experts, investors, and business leaders gathered to discuss Africa’s growing green economy.

For Benue, the partnership signals a shift from climate promises to real, on-the-ground solutions.

Inside the Climate Agreement

The project is being coordinated through the Benue State Council on Climate Change, which described the initiative as a strategic effort to tackle multiple challenges at once: environmental protection, rural development, and emissions reduction.

According to officials, the rollout will provide households with:

• Two clean cookstoves

• Stainless steel cooking pots

• 40 kilograms of briquettes made from agricultural waste, such as rice husks

These briquettes will replace traditional firewood, offering a low-emission cooking alternative while also helping preserve forests and reduce environmental degradation.

A Major Step Toward Climate Goals

For Benue State, the programme fits into broader ambitions to reduce emissions and move closer to long-term net-zero climate targets.

Clean cooking technology is widely seen as one of the most effective climate interventions in developing countries.

Across Africa, millions of households still rely on wood or charcoal for cooking.

This practice contributes to deforestation, indoor air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

By introducing modern alternatives, governments can address both environmental and public health challenges.

Organisers of the conference noted that Benue’s programme may become the largest state-led clean cookstove rollout in Nigeria, positioning the state as a leader in climate action at the sub-national level.

Why This Project Is Different

Unlike many initiatives that stop at planning stages, this project has moved directly into implementation because it is backed by a memorandum of agreement, not just a memorandum of understanding.

Executives at Greenplinth Africa say this structure ensures the programme begins delivering results quickly.

The initiative also ties into carbon credit programmes, meaning the emissions reductions from the cookstoves could generate climate financing opportunities.

This approach could open new revenue streams for Benue while helping Nigeria participate more actively in global carbon markets.

Economic and Social Benefits for Households

Beyond environmental gains, the programme aims to improve everyday life for families.

Participating households will receive:

• Monthly financial incentives

• Health insurance coverage

• Cleaner cooking technology that reduces exposure to smoke

Indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods is a major health risk.

According to global health studies, smoke from solid fuels is linked to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and early deaths, particularly among women and children.

Women and Girls Expected to Benefit the Most

In many rural communities, women and girls spend hours collecting firewood, often walking long distances.

This task exposes them to health risks and sometimes safety concerns.

By replacing firewood with briquettes made from agricultural waste, the programme could dramatically reduce the time spent gathering fuel.

This change means:

• Girls may have more time for school

• Women face lower health risks from smoke exposure

• Families save time and money on cooking fuel

For many advocates, clean cooking initiatives represent both a climate solution and a social justice intervention.

Linking Agriculture to the Green Economy

Another unique aspect of the project is the use of agricultural residues such as rice husks to produce briquettes.

This approach turns farm waste into an economic resource instead of letting it go unused.

Benue—often called Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation”—produces large quantities of agricultural crops.

Transforming this waste into clean cooking fuel could create new rural industries and jobs while reducing environmental pollution.

Nigeria’s Climate Policy Framework

The initiative also aligns with Nigeria’s broader climate policy, particularly the Climate Change Act.

This law provides legal backing for emissions reduction efforts and requires climate accountability at federal, state, and local government levels.

Experts say Nigeria’s framework is among the most structured climate governance systems in Africa.

However, implementing large-scale projects remains difficult due to the country’s size and complex administrative structure.

This is why state-level partnerships with private companies are becoming increasingly important.

Impact and Consequences

The Benue cookstove programme could produce several major outcomes:

• Reduced deforestation as fewer trees are cut for firewood

• Lower household emissions, contributing to climate goals

• Improved public health, especially for women and children

• New economic opportunities through carbon credits and green enterprises

• Greater climate leadership for Nigerian states

If successful, the project may become a blueprint for similar initiatives across Nigeria and other African countries.

What’s Next?

The next phase will focus on large-scale distribution of the cookstoves and briquettes to households across Benue.

Greenplinth Africa also plans to expand related projects, including:

• Distributing tens of millions of additional cookstoves across Africa

• Launching tree-planting programmes linked to carbon credit systems

• Attracting climate investment into sustainable energy and agriculture

Stakeholders at the Lagos conference expressed optimism that Benue’s project could attract global climate finance and inspire other states to launch similar programmes.

Summary

Benue State’s agreement with Greenplinth Africa marks a major step toward practical climate action in Nigeria.

By distributing two million clean cookstoves, the state aims to reduce reliance on firewood, improve public health, and create economic opportunities through carbon credits and agricultural waste recycling.

The programme combines environmental protection with social benefits, particularly for rural women and families.

If implemented successfully, the initiative could transform how Nigerian states approach climate solutions—moving from policy discussions to tangible change.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Benue State signed a climate partnership with Greenplinth Africa to distribute two million clean cookstoves

• The project aims to reduce firewood use, emissions, and deforestation

• Households will receive cookstoves, cooking pots, and briquettes made from agricultural waste

• Participants will also get monthly financial incentives and health insurance

• Women and girls are expected to benefit through reduced smoke exposure and less time collecting firewood

• The initiative may generate carbon credits and climate financing opportunities

• Benue could become a national model for large-scale clean cooking and green economy projects