The PENGASSAN Foundation has distributed cooking gas and six-kilogramme cooking stoves to more than 200 indigent women and persons living with disabilities in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory, as part of efforts to promote clean cooking and reduce health risks associated with firewood use.

The beneficiaries received the items on Tuesday during an outreach programme organised by the foundation to support vulnerable members of the Kuje community.

Speaking at the palace of the 16th Gomo of Kuje, Dr Haruna Tanko Jubrin, the National Treasurer of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Chairman of the foundation,

Dr David Owan, said the initiative was designed to reduce respiratory problems linked to prolonged exposure to smoke from firewood and charcoal.

Owan said women who rely on firewood for cooking are particularly exposed to smoke-related illnesses and are often forced to travel long distances in search of firewood as nearby supplies become depleted.

He said the clean-cooking initiative would not only improve the health of beneficiaries but also contribute to reducing deforestation and environmental degradation.

According to him, the foundation was established in 2025 under the leadership of PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, to complement the association’s social responsibility efforts through interventions in communities and support for people in need.

Owan explained that the foundation is financed through contributions from PENGASSAN members, adding that the initiative reflected the association’s commitment to giving back to society despite the prevailing economic challenges.

The Secretary of the PENGASSAN Foundation, Engr Maryann Ada Mbanaso, said women were particularly vulnerable to the health consequences of traditional cooking methods because of their greater exposure to household cooking activities.

Mbanaso said the provision of gas and stoves was intended to give the beneficiaries a safer alternative while improving their living conditions and protecting their families from the harmful effects of firewood smoke.

She also raised concerns about the security risks women face when they travel several kilometres to gather firewood, saying the clean-cooking intervention could help reduce their exposure to such dangers.

The National Secretary of the PENGASSAN Women Commission, Comrade Chidinma Anyanwu, urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the cooking facilities and embrace cleaner energy sources to help protect their health and the environment.

Anyanwu said the project demonstrated the association’s commitment to social responsibility and was made possible through contributions from members’ salaries.

She attributed the initiative to the leadership of Osifo and the willingness of PENGASSAN members to support vulnerable communities.

The Gomo of Kuje, Dr Jubrin, commended the foundation for the intervention, saying it would contribute to poverty reduction and improve the welfare of residents.

The traditional ruler expressed appreciation to PENGASSAN Foundation for extending the initiative to the Kuje community and called for continued support for vulnerable residents.