The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has rolled out its “Breathe Clean Air Initiative,” under which 5,000 households across Abuja will receive free cooking gas cylinders and enjoy six months of free gas refills.
The programme, unveiled on Saturday under the Safe Environment Renewable Project, is part of ongoing efforts to reduce environmental pollution and improve public health in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at the launch, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stressed that the initiative was a deliberate environmental and health intervention, not another round of government palliatives.
She said, “The truth is, health is wealth. Health and the environment are equal. So, the focus of this programme is not only to give out palliatives, as we’ve done in the past.”
Fasawe explained that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had fully embraced the vision for a healthier and more livable capital city.
She added, “It’s to tell Nigerians that if only we can put our hands together and not wait for governments alone, we can have a happy, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria. Because truly, with peace and prosperity, Nigeria will be great again.”
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Babagana Adams, highlighted the initiative’s impact on women, especially pregnant women who often bear the brunt of unsafe cooking methods.
He said, “We’re also saving the pregnant women, along with the family. So if they live healthily, they’ll be more productive, and the GDP of the FCT will increase. A healthy community is a wealthy community.”
Partners Emphasise Health And Economic Gains
The project’s partners, led by IHS Nigeria Limited, underscored the health and economic benefits of transitioning from firewood and charcoal to cleaner energy sources.
Mohammed Darwish, Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, said the initiative would shield women and children from the harmful fumes that cause respiratory diseases and cancer.
He explained, “The six-month voucher distributed in addition to the cylinder would encourage the beneficiaries to sustain the usage of the gas cylinders.”
Darwish added, “This programme, in simple English, is about helping 5,000 mothers, sisters, and daughters by not inhaling toxic gases anymore, and by making sure their health is better by breathing fresh air.”
A representative of the Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, Daniela Omotola, described the initiative as a “timely, life-changing intervention” that would reduce pollution-related illnesses and improve overall community well-being.
Environmental experts at the event also noted that as more households embrace cooking gas, pressure on forests and farmlands would reduce—curbing tree loss, slowing soil degradation, and helping lower rising temperatures in the FCT.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]