5,000 households to get free cooking gas cylinders,  6 months refill support in Abuja

About 5,000 households across Abuja are set to receive free cooking gas cylinders along with six months of complimentary refills under the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) “Breathe Clean Air Initiative.”

The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health and Environment Secretariat (FCT-HES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, announced the rollout during the inauguration of the Safe Environment Renewable Project – Breathe Clean Air Abuja – held on Saturday in the capital city.

Fasawe explained that the programme goes beyond offering palliatives, noting that it aims to correct misconceptions about environmental health and empower women to better manage their homes and family wellbeing.

She emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda continues to impact various sectors with the goal of improving living standards for all citizens.

According to her, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has aligned fully with the president’s vision and demonstrated strong commitment to making the territory more liveable.

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“The truth is, health is wealth. Health and environment are equal. So the focus of this programme is not only to give out palliatives, as we have done in the past.

“The focus of the programme is to address the Renewed Hope Agenda Initiatives.

“It is 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,” she said.

Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Babagena Adams, also highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that it would alleviate the strain on pregnant women.

“We are also saving the pregnant women, along with their families.

“So, if they live healthy, they will be more productive, and the GDP of FCT will increase. So a healthy community is a wealthy community, that is the benefit,” Adams said.

Speaking earlier, Mohammed Darwish, Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria Limited and a partner in the project, said the effort was designed to protect mothers and children from inhaling harmful fumes emitted from firewood and charcoal.

He warned that prolonged exposure to such smoke could cause lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.

“The six month voucher distributed in addition to the cylinder would encourage the beneficiaries to sustain the usage of the gas cylinders.

“This programme, in a nutshell, is about helping 5,000 mothers, sisters, and daughters by not inhaling toxic gases anymore.

“It is also by really making sure that their health is better by breathing fresh air,” he added.

Ayotade Oyinlola, Executive Vice President of IHS, noted that the support would help reduce household spending on medical treatments.

Dr. Ayuba Hannatu, Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the National Hospital Abuja and Secretary of the Nigerian Cancer Society, FCT chapter, said the initiative prioritises preventive health and lifestyle improvement.

Daniela Omotola, involved in the campaign through Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, lauded the programme as timely and transformative, adding that it would help curb pollution-linked diseases and promote a healthier population in the FCT.

Stakeholders at the inauguration added that as more homes adopt cooking gas, pressure on the environment—such as tree loss, soil degradation, and rising temperatures—is expected to reduce over time.