As 17,000 households in Jigawa state gets free fabricated stoves in 2012, the state ministry of Women Affairs, says plans are underway to distribute more free stoves to thousands of households in the state in 2013.

Women Affairs Commissioner, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, speaking with Vanguard, said the distribution of the fabricated stove is a deliberate move to control indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood in the state.

Hajiya Hadiza explained that the state government expended N30 million for the fabrication of the 17,000 units of stoves of various sizes which were distributed last year, adding that the stoves were produced locally in the state.

Her words " These stoves are being fabricated locally by our youth in the state ministry of women affair vocational training centre located here in the state capital Dutse, more youths are being trained on how to fabricate the stoves which consume less wood and cook faster".

Similarly, the commissioner disclosed that the ministry disbursed N20 million as micro credit to 75 women corporate societies in the state in collaboration with the state ministry for local government to stand as surety for the beneficiaries of the loans through their various local government councils.