A research has revealed that 95,000 Nigerians die annually as a result of diseases caused by toxic cook stove smoke. The research was conducted by a UN linked organization that has launched a campaign against such deaths in the country, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

The report also claimed that a total of two million people die yearly from the said toxic cook smoke disease, with Nigeria recording the highest number of deaths in Africa.

Executive Director of the organization, Radha Muthiah opined that the disease and its accompanying risks should not be treated with kidgloves but accorded same attention as global killer diseases i.e malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

“We feel the time is right and the time is indeed now with the launch of the Nigerian Alliance as well to arrest this silent killer in homes of half of the world population,” she said at Tuesday’s launch.

He also said that number of people that are dependent on solid fuels for cooking has hit three million, a practice he claims also aids deforestation, which according to scientists say contributes to global warming and climate change.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley confirmed his government’s commitment to the project and also announced a donation of up to $105 million to be remitted over the next five years to fund the project, which aims to create markets for cleaner burning stoves.

US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley said his government has committed up to $105 million over the next five years for the project, which aims to create markets for cleaner burning stoves.

The Coordinator of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Ewah Eleri, said the target is to see Nigeria equipped with 10 million clean cookstoves by 2020, beginning with half a million within the next 12 months.