The Federal Capital Territory Administration has unveiled its “Breathe Clean Air Initiative,” through which 5,000 households in Abuja will receive free cooking gas cylinders along with six months of complimentary refills.
Launched on Saturday as part of the Safe Environment Renewable Project, the initiative aims to curb environmental pollution and improve the health of residents.
At the event, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, stressed that the programme is not another palliative effort but a targeted strategy to tackle environmental ignorance and promote healthier lifestyles.
She noted, “Health is wealth, and the environment is equally important. This programme is not just about distributing palliatives as we’ve done in the past.”
Fasawe explained that the initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to improve living standards nationwide. She added that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is fully aligned with this vision and is committed to creating a healthier, more liveable capital city.
She said the project also aims to encourage collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
The Permanent Secretary of the secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adams, highlighted the health benefits of cleaner energy, particularly for women. He explained that reducing exposure to harmful fumes would improve productivity and contribute to economic growth, noting that “a healthy community is a wealthy community.”
Partners supporting the initiative, including IHS Nigeria Limited, emphasised both the health and economic gains of moving away from firewood and charcoal. The CEO of IHS Nigeria, Mohammed Darwish, noted that switching to gas reduces exposure to fumes linked to serious respiratory and cancer-related illnesses. He said that the six-month refill vouchers would help households maintain the transition.
Darwish added that the programme ultimately aims to protect women and children by ensuring they no longer inhale hazardous smoke.
A representative of the Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, Daniela Omotola, praised the initiative as a timely and transformative effort that would reduce pollution-related health issues and improve community well-being.
Environmental stakeholders at the event also observed that increased use of cooking gas would ease pressure on forests and farmlands, helping to reduce deforestation, soil damage, and rising temperatures across the FCT.
