Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has banned the production, sales and use of charcoal which was an alternative to cooking gas and kerosene across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Commissioner for Environment, Victor Omofaiye, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
The Commissioner for Environment remained silent on the hazard, risk or danger posed in the use of charcoal, hence leaving the ban with uncountable unanswered questions within the State and within Nigeria.
Not taking into consideration the fact that charcoal was an alternative domestic fuel at this time where cooking gas and kerosene are no more affordable by the common man, Bello went ahead to say charcoal production in Kogi was illegal and highly prohibited, adding that any person or group of persons caught producing or in possession it would be arrested and prosecuted in court.
“Any vehicle caught carrying charcoal shall be impounded by the Kogi State Government,” he said.
The sale of charcoal has become a lucrative business in Kogi due to its high demand due to the high cost of domestic cooking gas and kerosene.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas, which used to be sold for N250 and N350 per kg has skyrocketed to between N650 to N750 per kg, while kerosene jumped from N220 per litre to N350 per litre.
Residents who could not afford the high prices of gas and kerosene were left with no option but to use charcoal.
This development has made many people venture into charcoal production and marketing to meet their domestic needs and make a good profit.
Investigation revealed that a bag of charcoal which previously sold for between N900 and N1,200 in Lokoja now sells for between N1,800 and N2,200 because of high demand.
