Government offers gas cylinders, free refills to 5,000 households
Government offers gas cylinders, free refills to 5,000 households
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has launched its “Breathe Clean Air Initiative”, under which 5,000 households across Abuja will receive free cooking gas cylinders and enjoy six months of free refills.
The initiative, unveiled on Saturday under the Safe Environment Renewable Project, marks the administration’s push to reduce environmental pollution and improve health outcomes for residents.
Speaking at the launch, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the programme was not designed as another palliative scheme but as a deliberate effort to address environmental ignorance and promote healthy living.
She said, “The truth is, health is wealth. Health and the environment are equal. So, the focus of this program is not only to give out palliatives, as we’ve done in the past.”
According to her, the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to improve living standards across all strata of society.
Fasawe added that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had fully keyed into the President’s vision and shown strong commitment to making the capital city healthier and more livable.
She said, “The focus of this programme is to address the Renewed Hope Agenda Initiatives. 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 at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adams, highlighted the positive health impact of the project, especially on women.Buy vitamins and supplements
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. So, a healthy community is a wealthy community, so that’s the benefit.”
Partners of the initiative, led by IHS Nigeria Limited, also emphasised the health and economic benefits of switching from firewood and charcoal to cleaner energy sources.
The Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohammed Darwish, said the initiative would protect women and children from inhaling toxic fumes that cause severe respiratory and cancer-related ailments.
He explained, “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 and simple English, is about helping 5,000 mothers, sisters, and daughters by not inhaling toxic gases anymore, and by really making sure that their health is better by breathing fresh air. That’s in a nutshell,” he added.Buy vitamins and supplements
Also speaking, a representative of the Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, Daniela Omotola, lauded the project as a “timely, life-changing intervention” that would reduce pollution-related illnesses and improve community well-being.
Environmental stakeholders at the event observed that as more households transition to cooking gas, the pressure on forests and farmlands would gradually reduce, curbing tree loss, soil degradation, and rising temperatures in the FCT.
